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Vitamin E homologues α- and γ-tocopherol are not associated with bone turnover markers or bone mineral density in peri-menopausal and post-menopausal women

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Abstract

Summary

In a large cohort of older women, we investigated the relationships that different forms of vitamin E may have with bone turnover markers and bone mineral density (BMD). We found a suggestive positive association between serum alpha-tocopherol and BMD at the femoral neck, but no other clinically relevant observations.

Introduction

Vitamin E has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties hypothesized to benefit bone, but limited studies exist regarding its homologues. We examined circulating and dietary α- and γ-tocopherols with bone turnover markers (BTMs) and bone mineral density (BMD), and the role of inflammation in this relationship.

Methods

We performed two cross-sectional analyses from two visits (V2, 1997–1999, n = 3883; V3, 2007–2011, n = 2130) of the Aberdeen Prospective Osteoporosis Screening Study. Dietary and supplement intakes by food frequency questionnaire were assessed at both visits. V2 BTMs (urinary free pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline, serum N-terminal propeptide of type 1 collagen) and V3 serum α- and γ-tocopherols, inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 [IL-6], serum amyloid A [SAA], high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], E-selectin) and dual X-ray absorptiometry BMD at the femoral neck and lumbar spine were collected. Food sources of tocopherol homologues and diet-serum correlations were determined. The relationships between dietary tocopherols and BTMs (V2), and dietary and serum tocopherols with BMD (V3) were examined by multivariable regression (adjusting for age, cholesterol, inflammatory markers, carotenoids, body mass index, physical activity level, alcohol intake, smoking status and national deprivation category).

Results

Serum γ-tocopherol was associated with increasing concentrations of hs-CRP, SAA and E-selectin (P-trend all <0.0001), while α-tocopherol was associated with decreasing concentrations of IL-6 and hs-CRP (P-trend all <0.001). Controlling for covariates, serum α-tocopherol was positively associated with BMD at the femoral neck (β = 0.002, P = 0.04) among those not reporting vitamin E supplementation.

Conclusion

We did not find biologically meaningful results between dietary and tocopherol homologues with BTMs or BMD.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Foods Standards Agency and the UK Department of Health (grant number N05086) and the Scottish Funding Council. We are grateful for funding from the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environmental Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) Food, Land and People Programme. Any views expressed are the authors’ own; none of the funders had a role in design, analysis or writing of the present study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Products Group, Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB21 9SB, UK

    T. C. Yang & G. G. Duthie

  2. School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Aberdeen, Health Sciences Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK

    T. C. Yang, L. S. Aucott & H. M. Macdonald

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  1. T. C. Yang
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Yang, T.C., Duthie, G.G., Aucott, L.S. et al. Vitamin E homologues α- and γ-tocopherol are not associated with bone turnover markers or bone mineral density in peri-menopausal and post-menopausal women. Osteoporos Int 27, 2281–2290 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-015-3470-x

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