Sex differences in the inhibition of γ-tocopherol metabolism by a single dose of dietary sesame oil in healthy subjects

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 87; no. 6; pp. 1723 - 1729
• Main Authors: Frank, Jan, Lee, Sangeun, Leonard, Scott W, Atkinson, Jeffrey K, Kamal-Eldin, Afaf, Traber, Maret G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.06.2008
• Subjects: alpha-Tocopherol - metabolism; Body Mass Index; Chromatography, Liquid; Cross-Over Studies; dietary fat; dose response; Female; gamma-tocopherol; gamma-Tocopherol - administration & dosage; gamma-Tocopherol - metabolism; gender differences; Humans; lignans; lipid metabolism; Lipids - blood; Male; Mass Spectrometry; men; Reference Values; Sesame Oil; Sex Characteristics; women
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/87.6.1723

Gamma-tocopherol has unique properties that may be beneficial in sustaining optimal human health, but hepatic vitamin E metabolism enhances gamma-tocopherol turnover. Our aim was to determine the extent to which dietary sesame lignans alter human alpha- and gamma-tocopherol metabolism and elimination as carboxyethyl hydroxychromanols (CEHCs). Healthy participants (n = 5 women and 5 men) in a randomized, crossover study (with 4-wk washout) consumed muffins prepared with either corn oil or unrefined sesame oil (sesamin, 94 mg; sesamolin, 42 mg), along with a capsule containing a 1:1 molar ratio of deuterium-labeled d(6)-alpha- and d(2)-gamma-tocopherol acetates ( approximately 50 mg each). Plasma and urine were collected up to 72 h; unlabeled and labeled tocopherol and CEHC concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Sesame oil muffin consumption in men, but not in women, decreased (P < 0.05) areas under plasma d(2)-gamma-CEHC concentration-time curves (area under the curve) and maximum concentrations. However, in both sexes urinary d(2)-gamma-CEHCs were decreased for 24 h following sesame oil muffin consumption. In humans, gamma-tocopherol metabolism can be inhibited by the simultaneous consumption of gamma-tocopherol and sesame lignans. The observed differences between men and women with respect to vitamin E metabolism warrant further investigation.