Vitamin E Suppresses Angiogenesis

SENDAI, Japan—Tocotrienol (T3), an unsaturated form of vitamin E, suppressed in vivo angiogenesis in bovine aortic endothelial cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in a recent study (J Nutr. 2007 Aug; 137(8):1938-1943). Researchers investigated T3’s antiangiogenic properties using two well-characterized angiogenic models—the mouse dorsal air sac (DAS) assay and the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay.

In the DAS assay, dietary supplementation of 10 mg T3/d increased neovascularization in tumor cell-implanted mice; in the CAM assay, T3 inhibited new blood vessel formation on the growing CAM and increased frequency of avascularization. Cell-culture studies revealed T3 significantly reduced fibroblast growth factor-induced proliferation, migration and tube formation in HUVEC, with delta-T3 having the highest activity. This and other results indicated the antiangiogenic effects of T3 were associated with changes in kinase signaling as well as induction of apoptosis in endothelial cells. Researchers concluded T3 has potential as a therapeutic dietary supplement for preventing angiogenic disorders, although clinical study will be required to evaluate its efficacy and safety.

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