Sesame Lignans and Vitamin E Supplementation Improve Subjective Statuses and Anti-Oxidative Capacity in Healthy Humans With Feelings of Daily Fatigue

Glob J Health Sci. 2015 Mar 25;7(6):1-10. doi: 10.5539/gjhs.v7n6p1.

Abstract

Sesamin has anti-oxidative functions in vivo. Fatigue is caused in part by oxidative stress. We evaluated whether sesame lignans (sesamin/episesamin=1/1, 10 mg) with vitamin E (55 mg of alpha-tocopherol) (SVE) could improve subjective statuses and anti-oxidative capacity in humans using questionnaires on fatigue, sleep and physical appearance, as well as low-density lipoprotein oxidation lag time. A placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study was conducted with subjects experiencing daily fatigue. After a run-in period, subjects were administered oral SVE or a placebo (P) for 8 weeks. A questionnaire regarding fatigue, sleep and physical appearance was conducted at 0, 4, and 8 weeks. Plasma low-density lipoprotein oxidation lag time was measured as an indicator of anti-oxidative capacity. The per-protocol analysis revealed significant improvements in fatigue status at 4 and 8 weeks compared to 0 weeks in both groups (p<0.01), and sleep and physical appearance at 8 weeks compared to 0 weeks only in the SVE group (p<0.01). There were no significant differences observed between the groups. According to the 72-subject subgroup analysis (aged 40 and over), the sleep and physical appearance significantly improved compared to the P group (p<0.05), and fatigue status showed a tendency for improvement compared to the P group. Anti-oxidative capacity in the SVE group significantly increased compared to the P group (p<0.01). No adverse events relating to SVE supplementation were confirmed. These results suggest SVE supplementation could safely alleviate daily fatigue and oxidative stress.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Fatigue / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lignans / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Sesamum*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitamin E / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Lignans
  • Vitamin E