Combined effects of sesamin with alpha-tocopherol or tocotrienols on lipid and immune indices in Brown-Norway rats

This study was designed to compare the combined effects of sesamin with alpha-tocopherol (Toc) or tocotrienols (T-3) on fatty acid composition, leukotriene production, and immune indices in immunosensitive Brown-Norway rats. Diets containing Toc and T-3 (both 0.2%) alone or in combination with sesamin (0.2%) were given for 3 weeks. When rats were fed Toc or T-3 alone, there were no significant differences in liver lipid concentration and polyunsaturated fatty acid composition, or splenic leukotriene production. Feeding T-3 alone reduced the liver thiobarbituric acid (TEA) values and increased CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio of mesenteric lymph node (MLN) T-lymphocytes significantly compared to the corresponding Toc group. However, when given together with sesamin, Toc significantly reduced 18:2n-6, 20:4n-6 levels of liver phosphatidylcholine, splenic CD8(+) T-cell subsets, IgA level, and serum IgM level, while it increased the concentration of liver phospholipid and triglyceride, CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio, and splenic IgG and IgM levels. The combination of T-3 with sesamin showed a similar effect but to a more marked extent in addition to the reduction of the blood TEA values and serum IgE level and the increase in IgG level in MLN lymphocytes. These results indicate that simultaneous administration of Toc or T-3 with sesamin was more effective than individually in modulating immune indices, particularly in the latter combination. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.