The latest double-blind, randomized controlled study shows that tocotrienol supplementation at 200mg twice a day for 12 months supports the improvement of early diabetic retinopathy by attenuating the progression of retinal microhemorrhage and diabetic macular edema (DME).
Diabetic retinopathy (eye complication caused by diabetes) can be graded into two main stages: non-proliferative and proliferative. Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) is the early stage of diabetic retinopathy which can be managed to avoid progressing into proliferative retinopathy.
In this double-blinded, randomized controlled study, 55 participants with NPDR were recruited from the Clinical Research Centre in Monash University Sunway Campus and CRC Clinical School Johor Bahru [1]. The participants were then randomized into treatment or placebo groups and were respectively required to consume 200mg of bioenhanced mixed-tocotrienol complex (EVNol SupraBio™ encapsulated in soft gels branded as Tocovid SupraBio™) or placebo soft gels twice daily for 12 months. Percentage change of retinal bleed, diabetic macular edema and an angiogenesis biomarker – serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of the participants were assessed at baseline, 2-month, 6-month, and 12-month of the study period.
Results
Significant increase (23.42%) of retinal microhemorrhage area was observed in the placebo group but not in the treatment group. Furthermore, participants in the treatment group also had a significant reduction (up to 48.38%) in terms of the size of diabetic macular edema (DME) on the 12th month of the treatment period; whereas similar reduction was not observed in the placebo group. In addition, it was speculated that the mechanism of action in delaying DR progression by bioenhanced mixed-tocotrienol complex is not through angiogenesis inhibition, as evidenced by the unchanged level of serum VEGF. Taken together, the present findings confirm the beneficial effect of bioenhanced mixed-tocotrienol complex in attenuating DR progression, yet its exact mechanism of action should be further studied.
Overall, these findings are consistent with the previous study published in 2021 that showed a significant decrease in the size of DME and retinal microhemorrhages with 12 weeks supplementation of bioenhanced mixed-tocotrienol complex [2]. Hence, it is clear that there is a significant negative association between serum vitamin E tocotrienol levels and area of DME and retinal microhaemorrhages. Besides, along with the findings on DR, another previous study of 8-weeks bioenhanced mixed-tocotrienol supplementation has also reported an improvement in the liver enzymes namely AST and ALT [3].
“Blindness is the most feared complication in people with diabetic retinopathy and thus it often leads to emotional distress and mental health concerns. Notwithstanding, it is fortunate that the risk of vision loss can be greatly reduced by timely medical management and treatment. We believe our bioenhanced mixed-tocotrienol complex EVNol SupraBio™ is an effective adjunct therapy to support diabetic retinopathy or at least slow down its progression to a certain extent. Neither short-term nor long-term supplementation of EVNol SupraBio™ appears to adversely affect human health as ascertained in the research studies. Not only diabetic retinopathy, EVNol SupraBio™ was also being extensively studied in other diabetic complications such as diabetic neuropathy and nephropathy,” says Dr. Sien Yei Liew, Head of ARD (Applications, Research & Development) at ExcelVite.
This remarkable study was conducted by a group of experienced researchers from Monash University Malaysia under the leadership of Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr. Khalid Abdul Kadir, a prominent research clinician and endocrinology specialist in the country.
References
[1] Ho, J. I., Ng, E. Y., Chiew, Y., Koay, Y. Y., Chuar, P. F., Phang, S. C. W., … & Kadir, K. A. (2022). The effects of vitamin E on non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus: Are they sustainable with 12 months of therapy. SAGE Open Medicine, 10, 20503121221095324.
[2] Ng, E. Y., Chiew, Y., Phang, S. C. W., Ng, Y. T., Tan, G. C. J., Palanisamy, U. D., Ahmad, B., Kadir, K. A. (2021). The effects of vitamin E on non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus. International Journal of Diabetes and Clinical Research, 8(2), 142.
[3] Chiew, Y., Tan, S. M. Q., Ahmad, B., Khor, S. E., & Kadir, K. A. (2021). Tocotrienol-rich vitamin E from palm oil (Tocovid) and its effects in diabetes and diabetic retinopathy: a pilot phase II clinical trial. Asian Journal of Ophthalmology, 17(4), 375-399.