Gamma-Tocopherol: An Important Dietary Factor for Protection Against Cardiovascular Disease [ 2003 - 2005 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof Kevin Croft (Principal investigator) ,  Prof Ian Puddey ,  Prof Jonathan Hodgson

Brief description Heart disease is one of the most common causes of death in Western Countries. Oxidative damage is thought to be a major contributor to the development of a number of chronic diseases such as heart disease. Oxidative damage can occur in states of oxidative stress when the body's antioxidant defences cannot prevent damage caused by free radicals or other oxidants. Antioxidant vitamins help defend against oxidative injury and therefore should help to protect against such diseases as heart disease (atherosclerosis). Population studies support the view that dietary antioxidants such as vitamin E help to protect against heart disease. However, several large studies giving subjects vitamin E supplements (pure alpha tocopherol) showed no benefits or protection against heart disease. There is a cruicial difference between supplements and dietary intake of vitamin E. Supplements contain only alpha tocopherol while dietary sources derived from seeds, nuts, grain and oils is a mixture of different forms of tocopherol. Recent evidence suggests that one of these forms (gamma-tocopherol) has different properties to alpha-tocopherol and can protect against certain oxidants in ways that alpha-tocopherol cannot. We have developed a specialised assay to detect forms of gamma-tocopherol in human plasma that have reacted with toxic oxidants. Using this assay we have shown that people with heart desease may have higher levels of these products in their blood than people without heart disease. This project will investigate the effects of gamma and alpha tocopherol dietary supplements on risk factors for heart disease. It will also investigate how gamma tocopherol may be working to protect against the development of heart disease. These studies could have important implications for what type of diet or dietary supplement is most beneficial to protect against heart disease.

Funding Amount $AUD 341,575.00

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant