Are α-tocopherol levels associated with improved glycaemia?

Background/objective

Little Research has been done to evaluate the vitamin E status in healthy Singaporean adults, and to examine the associations between vitamin E status, adiposity, metabolic disorders, and bone health.

Subjects/methods

A total of 100 healthy Singaporeans (mean age 46.6 ± 13.1 years; 28% men) were recruited. Their serum Vitamin E, i.e. α- and γ-tocopherol, levels were measured by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with tandem mass spectrometry (LC MS/MS).

Results

There was no significant difference in vitamin E levels between men and women. Moreover, no participants showed vitamin E deficiency and 38 of them have adequate α-tocopherol levels (>12.9 mg/L). An association was observed between serum vitamin E status and supplements usage. An association was also seen between α-tocopherol with FBG, TG, TC, and LDL-C; but no association was found between vitamin E levels, measures of obesity and bone health.

Conclusions

Our results suggested that the prevalence rate of vitamin E deficiency in Singapore was low. Circulating vitamin E levels were associated with glycaemia and lipid disorders. Therefore, vitamin E level could play a role in delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes.