The Other Half of the Vitamin E Complex

A Balance of Vitamin E
The vitamin E complex is composed of two groups of molecules- tocopherols and tocotrienols. Many vitamin E supplements provide only tocopherols, particularly alpha-tocopherol. However, the tocotrienols are just as important for health, and have unique properties not shared by tocopherols.

Effective Antioxidants
Tocotrienols move around more easily in the membranes of cells than tocopherols, which makes them far more potent as antioxidants. They are also better able to protect lipids from oxidative damage, which helps reduce the risk of arterial hardening. Tocotrienols have also been found to reduce cholesterol levels. Their ability to protect DNA from damage gives them anti-cancer potential, and they have been found to block the growth of new blood vessels to feed tumours.

Vitamin E from Palm
AOR’s tocotrienols are sourced from palm, which has a higher concentration and more balanced ratio of tocotrienols than rice sources, as well as higher concentrations of phytonutrients such as squalene, co- enzyme Q10 and carotenes. This source of tocotrienols has the best solubility and bioavailibity, and is the form that has been most studied in research.

Tocotrienols
Vitamin E was originally isolated from plant oils and four compounds were identified: alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta- tocopherols. Recently, four corresponding structural analogs of tocopherols have been discovered in barley, palm, and rice bran oils. These are termed alpha, beta, gamma, and delta tocotrienols. Tocotrienols are structurally different, and represent the vanguard of novel, multi-action products with highly promising potential to safeguard health and function.

Physiological Properties of Tocotrienols:
Antioxidant studies showed that tocotrienols possess much higher activities than tocopherols against oxidative damage. Tocotrienols' higher antioxidant properties are due to the following:

(1.) More efficient and uniform penetration of membrane bilayers.

(2.) Higher recycling efficiency.

(3.) Stronger disordering of membrane lipids, causing more efficient interaction with lipid radicals.

Cardiovascular Disease
Atherosclerosis leading to coronary heart disease and stroke is the leading cause of death for those enjoying a western lifestyle. An inverse relationship exists between the development of atherosclerosis and serum concentration of tocotrienols. In hypercholesterolemic patients, palm tocotrienols have been found to significantly reduce levels of total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol. More excitingly, a double-blind trial showed that 28% of subjects with carotid stenosis who were given tocotrienols showed a regression of arterial blockage.

The mechanism of action for these effects has yet to be elucidated, but suppression of HMG-CoA reductase, a key enzyme in the process, is believed to be involved. The prevention of the oxidation of LDL is also a likely reason for tocotrienols' cardiovascular benefits. Oxidation of LDL (low-density lipoproteins) and VLDL (very low density lipoproteins) is now known to be a key initiating event in the initiation of atherosclerosis. Another key factor in the cardiovascular mortality is the formation of blood clots, which can become trapped in blood vessels narrowed by atherosclerotic plaques. Animals fed tocotrienols show a potent reduction of the production of clotting factors, and a resulting decrease in platelet aggregation.

Anticarcinogens
Tocotrienols exert a protective effect via free radical scavenging, since free radicals can induce DNA damage and carcinogenesis. One study found that all tocotrienols, and delta tocopherol -- but not alpha or other tocopherols -- could induce apoptosis (cellular suicide) in human breast cancers in vitro.

Angiogenesis, the fancy name for the creation of new blood vessels, is an important aspect of cancer development since tumors require new blood vessels to provide them with nutrients in order to grow and spread. Angiogenesis is also involved in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and diabetic retinal disease. Tocotrienols seem to be able to block this potentially dangerous process.

Advantages of Palm vs. Rice as a Tocotrienol Source
1. Naturally, palm has a higher concentration of tocotrienols than rice.

2. Delta tocotrienol is the most potent natural HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. Rice is devoid of this isomer.

3. High alpha-tocopherol attenuates gamma tocotrienol. Palm has a ratio of 20-21% of these vitamin E forms compared with over 40% for rice.

4. Palm has a higher concentration of other phytonutrients including Squalene, Co-Enzyme Q10, phytosterols, and alpha- and beta-carotene.

5. Palm is high in mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

6. The presence of monoglycerides and diglycerides acts as an emulsifying agent, thereby increasing solubilization and hence bioavailability.

7. Most of the research (>90%) has been conducted on palm-derived tocotrienols.

• Antioxidant
• Helps reduce cholesterol
• Helps prevent DNA damage