Objective: Type 2 diabetic subjects have an increased propensity to premature atherothrombosis. alpha-Tocopherol (AT), a potent antioxidant, has anti-inflammatory properties at high doses. The aim of the study was to test the effect of natural (RRR)-AT supplementation (1,200 IU/day) on markers of thrombosis, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) in type 2 diabetic patients with and without macrovascular complications (MVCs) compared with matched control subjects.
Research design and methods: The volunteers comprised type 2 diabetic patients with (n=23) and without (n=24) MVCs and matched control subjects (n=25). Plasma levels of PAI-1 and P-selectin were assayed at baseline, after 3 months of supplementation, and after a 2-month washout phase.
Results: Both diabetic groups had significantly increased levels of PAI-1 compared with control subjects (P < 0.025), whereas only type 2 diabetic patients with MVCs had significantly elevated levels of sP-selectin compared with control subjects. AT supplementation significantly lowered levels of PAI-1 and sP-selectin in all three groups. The reduction in PAI-1 levels with AT supplementation was significantly greater in type 2 diabetic patients with MVCs than in those without MVCs (P=0.005).
Conclusions: Thus, AT therapy decreases markers of thrombosis in diabetic patients and control subjects and could be an adjunctive therapy in the prevention of atherosclerosis.