Effects of Palm Tocotrienol-Rich Fraction Alone or in Combination with Glucosamine Sulphate on Grip Strength, Cartilage Structure and Joint Remodelling Markers in a Rat Model of Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Background: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease lacking disease-modifying therapeutic agents. This study aimed to compare the effects of palm tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF), glucosamine sulphate, and both agents combined in rats with osteoarthritis induced by monosodium iodoacetate (MIA). Methods: Thirty adult male rats were randomized into normal control, and osteoarthritis groups were treated orally daily with vehicle, palm TRF (100 mg/kg), glucosamine sulphate (250 mg/kg), and both agents combined for 4 weeks. Body weight and grip strength were measured weekly. After being sacrificed, the joints and blood were harvested for histology and serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) levels. Results: The body weight of the rats receiving treatment rebounded significantly after an initial reduction (vs osteoarthritic control, p < 0.05). The rats receiving combined treatments showed significantly better grip strength than the osteoarthritic control and individual treatment groups (p < 0.05). The serum COMP level was lower in all the treated groups (vs osteoarthritic control, p < 0.05). Cartilage histology of the treated rats was not significantly improved (vs osteoarthritic control, p > 0.05). Conclusion: The combination of palm TRF and glucosamine sulphate was more effective than individual agents in improving the grip strength of the rats, but the cartilage damage might need more time to heal.

The Role of Tocotrienol in Arthritis Management—A Scoping Review of Literature

“…The combination significantly improved the grip strength of the rats compared to tocotrienol alone. Similar effects were not observed in the circulating COMP level, perhaps because the maximal degree of suppression had been achieved [ 47 ]. The study is not conclusive, as the underlying mechanism of action remains elusive.…”

“…Among the OA studies, one involved oral supplementation of palm tocotrienol (400 mg/kg/day for 6 months) among patients with OA (Kellgren–Lawrence score of 2 and 3) [ 46 ]; two studies involved oral supplementation of palm (100 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks) or annatto tocotrienol (50–150 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks) in rats with monosodium iodoacetate-induced OA [ 47 , 48 ]; another study used SW1353 chondrosarcoma cells exposed to monosodium iodoacetate and palm (25–50 µg/mL for 24 h) or annatto tocotrienol (10–20 µg/mL for 24 h) in the experiment [ 49 ]. Glucosamine sulphate was used as the positive control in the in vivo studies [ 46 , 47 , 48 ].…”

“…The combination improved body weight and grip strength better than individual treatments. All treatment regimens also reduced cartilage degradation and circulating COMP levels in rats with OA [ 47 ].…”

“…This indicates that annatto tocotrienol could promote the self-repair mechanism of chondrocytes and reduce the degenerative changes observed in OA, given that collagen type II acts as a marker for well-differentiated chondrocytes and collagen type I acts as a marker for de-differentiated chondrocytes [ 84 ]. The animal studies included in the current review also showed improvements in the cartilage structure and joint function in OA models [ 47 , 48 ]. The tocotrienol-treated rats had reduced COMP levels [ 47 , 48 ] and hyaluronic acid [ 48 ], products of cartilage breakdown when compared to unsupplemented rats, which signifies lower rates of cartilage degradation.…”

“…The animal studies included in the current review also showed improvements in the cartilage structure and joint function in OA models [ 47 , 48 ]. The tocotrienol-treated rats had reduced COMP levels [ 47 , 48 ] and hyaluronic acid [ 48 ], products of cartilage breakdown when compared to unsupplemented rats, which signifies lower rates of cartilage degradation. The human clinical trials also illustrated similar improvement in joint function, but structural changes were not studied [ 46 ].…”