Effect of vitamin E on telomeres distribution of Alzheimer's disease patients

Objective:To investigate if the oxidative stress(OS) play a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease(AD),if length and distribution of telomeres will change when the patients were administered vitamin E.Methods:Thirty-eight AD patients were selected and divided into two groups(there was no significant difference in age,gender,telomeres length and life level between the two groups).Each group of 19 patients were administered vitamin E and placebo for 6 months respectively.Subtelomeric methylation status was estimated by comparing methylation-sensitive and methylation-insensitive isoschizomer HpaII and MspI related telomere length;telomeres average lengths and percentages of telomere length distribution in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the two groups were analyzed.Results:The data in vitamin E administration group showed a significant decrease of concentration of urinary 8-iso-PGF2α and a decrease tendency of subtelomeric methylation in shortest telomeres 4.4 kb.whereas no difference in placebo group.Conclusion:The results showed the decrease of OS in the group with vitamin E administration,and the shortest telomeres were more sensitive to OS.