Tocotrienols and Tocopherols by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Tocotrienol supplement research

Vitamin E occurs naturally in eight different forms – 4 forms of tocopherol and 4 forms of tocotrienol. While tocopherols are generally present in common vegetable oils (i.e. soy, canola, wheat germ, sunflower), tocotrienols, on the other hand, are concentrated in cereal grains (i.e. oat, barley, and rye, rice bran), with the richest source found in virgin crude palm oil, a vegetable oil that is increasingly used in prepared foods due to its trans-fat free property.

Recent Tocotrienol Research

Tocotrienols are vitamin E compounds that have an unsaturated side chain with three double bonds, selectively inhibit the activity of mammalian DNA polymerase lambda (pol lambda) in vitro. Polymerases are involved in cellular DNA synthesis during cell replication.

Tocotrienols inhibit the proliferation of and formation of tubes by bovine aortic endothelial cells, with delta-tocotrienol having the greatest effect.

Tocotrienols may act as potent anti-cancer agents by inhibiting pol lambda and angiogenesis. Tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma and delta-tocopherol) do not influence the activities of mammalian polymerase and angiogenesis as much, suggesting that the three double bonds in the unsaturated side chain of tocotrienols play an important factor in the inhibition of polymerase lambda.

Tocotrienols in Hazelnuts
Hazelnuts from 19 cultivars collected during 3 consecutive-year crops, in 2 different geographical localities, for a total of 79 samples, were evaluated for their contents in tocopherols and tocotrienols. Seven compounds were identified and quantified. All samples presented alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta- tocopherols and beta-tocotrienol; alpha- and gamma-tocotrienols were detected in some of the studied samples. alpha-Tocopherol was the major compound in all samples, ranging from 105 to 226 mg/kg of hazelnut. Statistical analyses were carried out in order to check for differences among cultivars, year crops, and geographical localities. Although some differences were observed when different-year crops and geographical localities were considered, neither of these factors seemed to produce considerable differences in terms of tocopherol and tocotrienol contents. For more nut information.
 

Tocomin  / Tocomin  SupraBio (TM) Supplementation Elevates Blood Levels
Two NIH-funded studies conducted at the Ohio State University Medical Center, published in the May, 2006 issue of the journal Antioxidant & Redox Signaling and June 26th issue of the Journal of Neurochemistry, demonstrate that taking tocotrienols (Tocomin and Tocomin SupraBioTM) orally is an effective way to elevate blood plasma levels to concentrations that could help protect against neurological damage resulting from stroke.

Palm tocotrienols
Published in the August, 2007 issue of the Journal of Nutrition, Japanese researchers from the Tohoku University and Nippon Medical School, Tokyo showed that natural full spectrum palm tocotrienol complex (in the form of Tocomin 50%, supplied by Carotech Ltd) suppressed in vivo angiogenesis in bovine aortic endothelial cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The researchers investigated tocotrienol’s antiangiogenic properties using two well-characterized angiogenic mouse models—the mouse dorsal air sac assay and the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay.
   Comments: Human trials are necessary with Tocomin tocotrienols to determine what effect these palm tocotrienols will have in the human body.

Tocotrienol questions
Q. Does tribulus terrestris extract interfere with tocotrienol supplement use?
   A. We don't see any reason why tribulus terrestris extract would interfere with a tocotrienol supplement or any vitamin E product.

Q. I've been using a Rice Bran based tocotrienol supplement for 6 years and now have discovered that the research showing benefits of tocotrienol supplementation was done with Palm Oil based tocotrienols. Does Dr. Sahelian or his staff have any comments on whether there is any value in Rice Bran based tocotrienol supplements? I'm hoping I haven't wasted my money for the past 6 years!
   A. We have little research to determine whether tocotrienols from one food source are any better than another source. There is so little long term human research available on different tocotrienols and their sources that it is anybody's guess at this time which source is better.

Q. A.C. Grace, the distributors of UniqueE brand vitamin E supplement have recently come out with a new 100% tocotrienol product. It is derived from annatto and what sets it apart purportedly from other rice-bran and palm derived tocotrienol supplements on the market is that it contains no tocopherols whatsoever -- just tocotrienols. It comes in 100 mg capsules. Does Dr. Sahelian have any thoughts on this A.C. Grace Unique# supplement and the fact it is a relatively large dose. Most other tocotrienols come in 50mg capsules.
   A. I prefer using a combination of tocotrienols and tocopherols. I also am not a proponent of high dose vitamin E use.