Researchers have recently found that a specific vitamin is important for reducing age-related decline in immune function. T-lymphocytes, also known as T-cells, are white blood cells that play an important role in fighting infections and regulating the immune response. T-cell function declines with age, which is believed to explain, in part, the reduction in immune function seen with increasing age.
A new study investigated the role that tocotrienols, a form of vitamin E, play in immune function. Vitamin E exists in 8 forms: 4 tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta), and 4 tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta). In this study, old and young mice were fed a standard diet or a diet supplemented with tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherol for 6 weeks. The mice were then evaluated for immune function.
The results of the study showed that lymphocyte proliferation, which is their ability to divide and reproduce, was reduced in the old mice compared to the young mice. In the old mice, the group that was supplemented with tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherol showed significantly increased lymphocyte proliferation compared to the old mice fed the standard diet.
Additionally, spleen cells in the old mice produced less chemical mediators known as cytokines than spleen cells of younger mice. In the old mice supplemented with tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherol, there was a significant increase in the production of the cytokine interleukin-1-beta, an important mediator of immune function. Macrophages, a type of white blood cell, were also shown to produce more inflammatory cytokines in the old mice compared to the young mice. Both old and young mice supplemented with tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherol showed an increase in interleukin-1-beta, but no increase in the other chemical mediators.
Thus, the researchers stated, “Together, these results suggest a beneficial effect of tocotrienols in improving the age-related decline in T-cell function.”
Reference:Ren Z, Pae M, Dao MC, Smith D, Meydani SN, Wu D. Dietary Supplementation with Tocotrienols Enhances Immune Function in C57BL/6 Mice. J Nutr. 2010 May 19. Published Online Ahead of Print.