α-Tocopherol Protects the Heart, Muscles, and Testes from Lipid Peroxidation in Growing Male Rats Subjected to Physical Efforts

Abstract

The effect of α-tocopherol supplementation on adaptation to training is still equivocal. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of training and α-tocopherol supplementation on α-tocopherol and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) concentration in the rat liver, heart, muscles, and testes. Male Wistar rats (n=32) were divided into four groups (nonsupplemented, not trained—C; nonsupplemented, trained—CT; supplemented, not trained—E; supplemented and trained—ET). During the 14-day experimental period, 2 mg/d of vitamin E as α-tocopherol acetate was administered to the animals (groups E and ET). Rats in the training group (CT and ET) were subjected to 15 minutes of treadmill running each day. The α-tocopherol levels in rat tissues were assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Lipid peroxides were determined by TBARS spectrophotometric method. α-Tocopherol had a significant impact on α-tocopherol concentration in all tissues. Training increased the α-tocopherol concentration in the heart and muscles but reduced it in the liver. Training also caused increased lipid peroxidation in the muscles, heart, and testes; but a higher α-tocopherol content in tissues reduced the TBARS level. The main finding of the study is that impaired α-tocopherol status and its adequate intake is needed to maintain optimal status to prevent damage to the skeletal and cardiac muscles as well as the testes in growing individuals.

A Mixture of Exogenous Emulsifiers Increased the Acceptance of Broilers to Low Energy Diets: Growth Performance, Blood Chemistry, and Fatty Acids Traits

“…However, including feed additives such as antioxidants and emulsifiers in poultry diets has been recognized as an effective strategy to alleviate the impaired effects induced by oxidants on broiler performance [5,30]. TBARs are an indirect marker of oxidative stress, but they are a direct marker of lipid damage caused by increased oxygen under stressful conditions, and α-tocopherol has a crucial role as an antioxidant protecting the lipids from peroxidation [31,32]. In the present study, dietary emulsifiers lowered the TBAR levels in the liver of birds, which confirms that the lipid peroxidation was decreased by feeding emulsifiers [33].…”

Antioxidants and Exercise Performance: With a Focus on Vitamin E and C Supplementation

“…More recently, Hoene et al [ 34 ] suggested a cautious use of vitamin E as a dietary supplement, since they observed that a vitamin E-enriched diet interferes with the adaptation process to exercise in mice. However, Górnicka et al [ 35 ] suggested that an impaired α-tocopherol status and its adequate intake is required to preserve an optimal status to prevent the skeletal and cardiac muscles, as well as the testes from damage, since in their study, α-tocopherol reduced lipid peroxidation in mice subjected to physical effort. Yi et al [ 36 ] investigated the effects of 75 g of almonds (a good source of vitamin E) consumed as single pre-exercise supplements over 4 weeks, and observed the improved performance (measured as distance travelled).…”

Interdependence of Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties of Squalene–Implication for Cardiovascular Health

“…The level of endogenous antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid and alpha tocopherol in the heart tissue, has also been measured, whereby the SQ administration has significantly reduced the isoproterenol-induced decline in these antioxidants level. Impairment of α -tocopherol status and inadequacy intake may cause damage to the cardiac muscles [ 53 ].…”