The lipid lowering effect of plant sterol ester capsules in hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Background: Foods enriched with phytosterols have been proven to be an effective therapy to improve blood lipid profiles. However, none of the studies have investigated the efficacy in lipid lowering of plant sterol esters (PSE) in capsule form. The objective of this study is to determine if the plant sterol esters (PSE) in capsule form (1.

Antioxidant transport by the human placenta.

We investigated the transfer of three antioxidants - melatonin, S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) and various forms of vitamin E - across the term, normal human placenta. The transport technique involved the single, isolated placental cotyledon system in vitro. Melatonin crossed the placental rapidly, equally to the freely diffusible marker, antipyrine.

Vitamin E dose-response studies in humans with use of deuterated RRR-alpha-tocopherol.

Background: Supplemental vitamin E does not raise plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations more than approximately 3-fold.

Objective: To elucidate the mechanism for the limitation in plasma alpha-tocopherol, we undertook human supplementation trials using incrementally increased doses of deuterated vitamin E.

Design: Plasma was obtained from 6 healthy, young adults (4 men and 2 women) during 3 sequential supplementation trials with doses of 15, 75, and 150 mg RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate labeled with deuterium (d3-RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate).

Human plasma and tissue alpha-tocopherol concentrations in response to supplementation with deuterated natural and synthetic vitamin E.

We report a comparison of natural and synthetic vitamin E in humans using deuterium labeling to permit the two forms of vitamin E to be measured independently in plasma and tissues of each subject. Differences in natural and synthetic vitamin E concentrations were measured directly under equal dosage conditions using an equimolar mixture of deuterated RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate and all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate. Two groups of five adults took 30 mg of the mixture as a single dose and as eight consecutive daily doses, respectively.

Transport of deuterium-labeled tocopherols during pregnancy.

With use of deuterium-labeled isotopes of RRR- and all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, the transport of vitamin E in pregnancy was evaluated to determine whether the placenta discriminates between these compounds. Fifteen pregnant subjects were recruited 5 d before delivery to receive 15, 30, 75, 150, or 300 mg vitamin E/d in capsules containing d3-RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate and d6-all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (1:1, by wt). Maternal blood was obtained before dosing, at hospital admission, and at parturition.