EVNol Tocotrienol may beat omeprazole in controlling gastric issues

12 Dec 2017 --- ExcelVite’s EVNol tocotrienol was found to be more effective in treating gastric growth factors in stress-exposed rats than omeprazole, a common medication used in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcer disease. This is according to a recently published study in the World Journal of Gastroenterology that suggests more investigation is warranted.

For the study, 28 rats were randomly assigned to four groups; two control groups and two treatment groups. For 28 days, both control groups (stress-exposed and not stress-exposed) were given vitamin-free palm oil while two treatment groups were pre-treated with 60mg per kg of tocotrienol (ExcelVite’s EVNol) and 20mg per kg of omeprazole respectively.

One control group and both treated groups were then exposed to water-immersion restraint stress (WIRS) for 3.5 hours. At the end of the study, the mRNA expression level of growth factors; vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α) were measured from the gastric lesions and gastric tissue. All these four gastric growth factors have different effects and roles in reconstruction of damaged mucosal structure.

Up-regulated expression of growth factors
Decreases in the expression level of three growth factors – VEGF, bFGF and TGF-α – were displayed in the stress-exposed control group. However, the tocotrieonol pre-treated group showed up-regulated expression of these growth factors, thus bringing the expression level equivalent to those in a no-stress condition or the no-stress control group. Meanwhile, the group pre-treated with omeprazole did not show a rise in the growth factors as significant as tocotrienol’s.

On the contrary, the stress-exposed control group exhibited an increase in EGF expression, but both groups pre-treated with tocotrienol and omeprazole correspondingly showed no significant result in reducing the EGF expression level in stress-exposed rats.

Prior to the above finding, the researchers from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia concluded that the ability of tocotrienol in regulating these growth factors (VEGF, bFGF and TGF-α) in a stress-induced ulcer-model where tocotrienol could enhance the repair of gastric mucosa against injury, henceforth deserve further study, especially in the form of human clinical trials.

“I believe that we all agree that peptic ulcers and gastric ulcers are a common issue, especially among middle-age adults. If preventive action is not being taken, it can become a more serious problem. One of the simple preventive ways is to ensure healthy mucosa, and the role of gastric growth factors during the process of ulcer repair is important,” says Diyanah Roslan, Nutritionist at ExcelVite.

“I am very excited by this new study,” adds Diyanah. “It further supports the gastro-protective effect of the EVNol full spectrum palm tocotrienol complex for gut health. By considering the previous works and positive results, I definitely look forward to a human clinical trial [that will] confirm the gastro-protective properties of tocotrienol.”

Sources:
Azlina, M. F. N., Qodriyah, H. M. S., Chua, K. H., & Kamisah, Y. (2017). Comparison between tocotrienol and omeprazole on gastric growth factors in stress-exposed rats. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 23(32), 5887.

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