The effects of tocotrienol-enriched canola oil on inflammation, nitrosative stress and urinary microalbumin in patients with type-2 diabetes: Arandomized double-blind clinical trial

Tocotrienols have been demonstrated to play a significant role in preventing diabetic nephropathy due to their immunologic and inflammatory properties. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a daily intake of canola oil enriched with 200 mg tocotrienol (T3) for 8 weeks on nitrosative stress، inflammation and urinary microalbumin in type-2 diabetic patients.

This clinical trial was conducted on 50 patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (fasting blood sugar > 126 mg/dl) randomly divided into 2 groups of 25 each to receive، daily for 8 weeks، either 15 ml T3-enriched canola oil (200mg T3; experimental group) or 15 ml pure canola oil (control group). Initial and final blood samples were collected to measureserum hs-CRP and nitric oxide (NO) levels، and 24-hr urine samples to measure urinary volume and microalbumin and creatinine levels. Physical activity levels، anthropometric parameters and nutrients intakes were determined before and after intervention and compared between the 2 groups.

T3-enriched canola oil brought about statistically significant reductions in urinary microalbumin (p=0. 004) and hs-CRP (p=0. 003). Also، at the end of the study، the intervention group had significantly lower serum hs-CRP and urinary microalbumin than the control group. A nonsignificant decrease was observed in the serum NO level in the T3 group.

Based on the findings it may be concluded that tocotrienols can improve the inflammatory status and prevent diabetic nephropathy. However، its effect on nitrosative stress needs furher investigation.