Associations of 24 h urinary excretions of α- and γ-carboxyethyl hydroxychroman with plasma α- and γ-tocopherol and dietary vitamin E intake in older adults: the Lifelines-MINUTHE Study

Abstract

Background Urinary metabolites of vitamin E, i.e., α- and γ-carboxyethyl hydroxychroman (α- and γ-CEHC), have gained increasing attention and have been proposed as novel biomarkers of vitamin E intake and status. However, there are insufficient data on the relationship of plasma α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol and dietary vitamin E intake with 24 h urinary excretions of α- and γ-CEHC. Objectives We aimed to (1) investigate the associations of urinary α- and γ-CEHC/creatinine ratios and 24 h urinary excretions of α- and γ-CEHC with plasma α- and γ-tocopherol, respectively; (2) investigate the associations of urinary α- and γ-CEHC/creatinine ratios and 24 h urinary excretions of α- and γ-CEHC with dietary vitamin E intake, and we hypothesize that 24 h urinary excretions of α- and γ-CEHC will better correlate with vitamin E intake than urinary α- and γ-CEHC/creatinine ratios. Design 24 h Urine and plasma samples were collected from 1519 participants (60–75 years, male: 50%) included in the Lifelines-MINUTHE Study for the assessments of urinary α- and γ-CEHC/creatinine ratios and 24 h urinary excretions of α- and γ-CEHC, and plasma α- and γ-tocopherol. Among those participants, dietary vitamin E intake data from 387 participants were available from an externally validated Flower-Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The associations of plasma α- and γ-tocopherol, dietary vitamin E intake, with urinary α- and γ-CEHC were assessed using multivariate linear regressions. Results 24 h Urinary excretion of α-CEHC (median (IQR): 0.9 (0.3–2.4) µmol) was less than that of γ-CEHC (median (IQR): 1.5 (0.5–3.5) µmol). After adjustment for covariates, we found that 24 h urinary α-CEHC excretion and urinary α-CEHC/creatinine ratio were both positively associated with plasma α-tocopherol (std.beta: 0.06, p = 0.02; std.beta: 0.06, p = 0.01, respectively). Furthermore, the sum of 24 h urinary α- and γ-CEHC excretions was positively associated with dietary vitamin E intake (std.beta: 0.08; p = 0.03), whereas there was no relation between urinary α- and γ-CEHC/creatinine ratios and vitamin E intake. No association was observed neither between plasma α- and γ-tocopherol and dietary vitamin E intake, nor between urinary γ-CEHC and plasma γ-tocopherol. Conclusion Our study confirmed our hypothesis that 24 h urinary α- and γ-CEHC excretions would be a better marker for dietary vitamin E intake than urinary α- and γ-CEHC/creatinine ratios. Considering that both 24 h urinary α- and γ-CEHC excretions and α- and γ-CEHC/creatinine ratios were also associated with plasma α-tocopherol status, we suggest that 24 h urinary α- and γ-CEHC excretions could be used to assess overall vitamin E status.

Metabolomic Profiles Associated With Blood Pressure Reduction in Response to the DASH and DASH-Sodium Dietary Interventions

“…Of these, urine α-carboxyethylhydroxychroman in the tocopherol metabolism pathway has been proposed as a biomarker of vitamin E intake and is a well-known antioxidant. 39,40 Thiamine was associated with reductions in SBP and DBP in the DASH diet intervention but not in the control diet intervention in the DASH-Sodium trial. Thiamine serves as a coenzyme for the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA.…”

Scientific opinion on the tolerable upper intake level for vitamin E

“…To evaluate α ‐tocopherol pharmacokinetics in younger (mean ± SD age: 32 ± 7 year; n = 12 women and 9 men) and older (aged 67 ± 8 year; n = 8 women and 12 men) adults, participants consumed deuterium‐labelled collard greens (Zhu et al., 2022 ). Baseline plasma α ‐tocopherol concentrations were higher in older [28.3 ± 11.7 μmol/L (women), 24.8 ± 8.6 (men)] than younger [18.7 ± 4.8 μmol/L (women), 21.6 ± 5.7 (men)]) participants, as were total cholesterol concentrations.…”

“…Plasma α ‐tocopherol was positively correlated with 24‐h urinary excretion of α ‐CEHC. Dietary ‘vitamin E’ intake (expressed as α ‐TE) was positively correlated with the sum of 24‐h urinary α ‐ and γ ‐CEHC excretions (Zhu et al., 2022 ).…”

“…There are also reported differences in the catabolism of tocochromanols between males and females (Frank et al., 2008 ; Kalsotra et al., 2002 ; Traber et al., 2017 ; Zhu et al., 2022 ). However, their relevance in terms of the health effects of the vitamin requires further investigation.…”