Blog Archives

Human clinical study linking tocotrienols and brain health begins

Malaysia’s GMP-certified palm tocotrienol complex producer, has proudly announced the commencement of its latest human clinical trial “NUTRITION” Phase IIB using a patented and bioenhanced full spectrum palm tocotrienol complex.

The NUTRITION Phase I human clinical trial (Natural Tocotrienol Against Ischemic Stroke Event) began in 2012. It aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a patented and bio-enhanced natural full spectrum tocotrienols in platelet function and blood lipid profile in ischemic stroke event.

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The Amazing Tocotrienol

Just how much do you know about the beneficial compound called tocotrienol? To find out, take this short quiz by answering either TRUE or FALSE.

Q: Tocotrienols are a form of Vitamin E.

Q: Tocotrienols have unique benefits not seen in tocopherols.

Q: Tocotrienols are widely available from natural sources.

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α-Tocopherol Attenuates the Triglyceride- and Cholesterol-Lowering Effects of Rice Bran Tocotrienol in Rats Fed a Western Diet.

Shibata A, Kawakami Y, Kimura T, Miyazawa T, Nakagawa K.

J Agric Food Chem. 2016 Jul 6;64(26):5361-6. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.6b02228.

Abstract

Previous studies demonstrated the ability of tocotrienol (T3) to lower levels of lipids, including cholesterol (Cho) and triglycerides (TG). Although α-tocopherol (α-Toc) reportedly inhibits the hypocholesterolemic effect of T3, there is no information about whether α-Toc influences the TG-lowering effect of T3 in vivo. In this study, we investigated the influence of α-Toc on the antihyperlipidemic effects (Cho- and TG-lowering) of rice bran tocotrienols (RBT3) in F344 rats fed a western diet. α-Toc attenuated both the Cho- and TG-lowering effects of RBT3 in vivo, whereas α-Toc alone exhibited no hypolipidemic effects. RBT3-induced Cpt-1a and Cyp7a1 gene expression was reduced by α-Toc. Furthermore, coadministration of α-Toc decreased liver and adipose tissue concentrations of tocotrienols in F344 rats. These results indicate that α-Toc has almost no antihyperlipidemic effect in vivo, but abrogates the antihyperlipidemic effect of RBT3 by reducing tissue concentrations of tocotrienols and regulating expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism. Understanding the underlying mechanism of the beneficial effects of T3 on lipid metabolism and the interaction with α-Toc will be important for developing T3-based therapeutics.

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Delta- and gamma-tocotrienol isomers are potent in inhibiting inflammation and endothelial activation in stimulated human endothelial cells.

Muid S, Froemming GR, Rahman T, Ali AM, Nawawi HM.

Food Nutr Res. 2016 Jul 6;60:31526. doi: 10.3402/fnr.v60.31526.

Abstract

Tocotrienols (TCTs) are more potent antioxidants than α-tocopherol (TOC). However, the effectiveness and mechanism of the action of TCT isomers as anti-atherosclerotic agents in stimulated human endothelial cells under inflammatory conditions are not well established. This study aims to compare the effects of different TCT isomers on inflammation, endothelial activation, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). 2) To identify the two most potent TCT isomers in stimulated human endothelial cells. 3) To investigate the effects of TCT isomers on NFκB activation, and protein and gene expression levels in stimulated human endothelial cells. Results show that δ- and γ-TCT are the two most potent TCT isomers in terms of the inhibition of inflammation and endothelial activation whilst enhancing eNOS, possibly mediated via the NFκB pathway. Hence, there is a great potential for TCT isomers as anti-atherosclerotic agents.

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Synthesis of (2R,8′ S,3′ E)-δ-tocodienol, a tocoflexol family member designed to have a superior pharmacokinetic profile compared to δ-tocotrienol.

Liu X, Gujarathi S, Zhang X, Shao L, Boerma M, Compadre CM, Crooks PA, Hauer-Jensen M, Zhou D, Zheng G.

Tetrahedron. 2016 Jul;72(27-28):4001-4006.

Abstract

A group of side chain partially saturated tocotrienol analogues, namely tocoflexols, have been previously designed in an effort to improve the pharmacokinetic properties of tocotrienols. (2R,8′S,3′E,11′E)-δ-Tocodienol (1) was predicted to be a high value tocoflexol for further pharmacological evaluation. We now report here an efficient 8-step synthetic route to compound 1 utilizing naturally-occurring δ-tocotrienol as a starting material (24% total yield). The key step in the synthesis is oxidative olefin cleavage of δ-tocotrienol to afford the chroman core of 1 with retention of chirality at the C-2 stereocenter.

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Exciting growth in palm phytonutrient segment

StarBiz  By Hanim Adnan

Local palm oil producers should focus on developing palm phytonutrient-based products, which have lately attracted good demand from the global neutraceuticals markets. The proven scientific health benefits of palm phytonutrients such as tocotrienols and carotenoids also bodes well with the growing health awareness and food safety concerns, which have led more consumers and manufacturers worldwide to source for natural, preservative-free and non-GMO ingredients in their products.

 

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Gamma-tocotrienol form of vitamin E suppresses breast cancer cell metastasis

Vitamin E is the collective name for a group of eight related vitamins, including four tocopherols (α, β, γ, and δ-tocopherol) and four tocotrienols (α, β, γ, and δ-tocotrienol). The eight variants have different distributions in foods and somewhat different biological activities. Alpha-tocopherol (α-tocopherol) is the most abundant form of vitamin E and is the isoform typically found in vitamin E supplements. Even brands containing mixed tocopherols do not contain any tocotrienols. However, evidence is accumulating that gamma-tocotrienol (γ-tocotrienol) is most effective in suppressing the proliferation of both hormone receptor positive (ER+/PR+) and triple negative (ER-/PR-/HER2-) breast cancer cells, as well as inducing their apoptosis (programmed cell death). Now a new study has reported that gamma-tocotrienol inhibits crucial steps in metastasis in a dose-response manner in both ER+/PR+ and triple negative cell

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Tocopherols in cancer: An update.

Das Gupta S, Suh N.

Mol Nutr Food Res. 2016 Jun;60(6):1354-63. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201500847. Review.

Abstract

Tocopherols exist in four forms designated as α, β, δ, and γ. Due to their strong antioxidant properties, tocopherols have been suggested to reduce the risk of cancer. Cancer prevention studies with tocopherols have mostly utilized α-tocopherol. Large-scale clinical trials with α-tocopherol provided inconsistent results regarding the cancer-preventive activities of tocopherols. This review summarizes our current understanding of the anticancer activities of different forms of tocopherols based on follow-up of the clinical trials, recent epidemiological evidences, and experimental studies using in vitro and in vivo models. The experimental data provide strong evidence in support of the anticancer activities of δ-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, and the natural tocopherol mixture rich in γ-tocopherol, γ-TmT, over α-tocopherol. Such outcomes emphasize the need for detailed investigation into the cancer-preventive activities of different forms of tocopherols to provide a strong rationale for intervention studies in the future.

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Metabolomic screening of pre-diagnostic serum samples identifies association between α- and γ-tocopherols and glioblastoma risk.

Björkblom B, Wibom C, Jonsson P, Mörén L, Andersson U, Johannesen TB, Langseth H, Antti H, Melin B.

Oncotarget. 2016 Jun 14;7(24):37043-37053. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.9242.

Abstract

Glioblastoma is associated with poor prognosis with a median survival of one year. High doses of ionizing radiation is the only established exogenous risk factor. To explore new potential biological risk factors for glioblastoma, we investigated alterations in metabolite concentrations in pre-diagnosed serum samples from glioblastoma patients diagnosed up to 22 years after sample collection, and undiseased controls. The study points out a latent biomarker for future glioblastoma consisting of nine metabolites (γ-tocopherol, α-tocopherol, erythritol, erythronic acid, myo-inositol, cystine, 2-keto-L-gluconic acid, hypoxanthine and xanthine) involved in antioxidant metabolism. We detected significantly higher serum concentrations of α-tocopherol (p=0.0018) and γ-tocopherol(p=0.0009) in future glioblastoma cases. Compared to their matched controls, the cases showed a significant average fold increase of α- and γ-tocopherol levels: 1.2 for α-T (p=0.018) and 1.6 for γ-T (p=0.003). These tocopherol levels were associated with a glioblastoma odds ratio of 1.7 (α-T, 95% CI:1.0-3.0) and 2.1 (γ-T, 95% CI:1.2-3.8). Our exploratory metabolomics study detected elevated serum levels of a panel of molecules with antioxidant properties as well as oxidative stress generated compounds. Additional studies are necessary to confirm the association between the observed serum metabolite pattern and future glioblastoma development.

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Effect of maternal supplementation with vitamin E on the concentration of α-tocopherol in colostrum.

Melo LR, Clemente HA, Bezerra DF, Dantas RC, Ramalho HM, Dimenstein R.

J Pediatr (Rio J). 2016 Jun 18. pii: S0021-7557(16)30059-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jped.2016.03.007. [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effect of maternal supplementation with vitamin E on the concentration of α-tocopherol in colostrum and its supply to the newborn. Study results show that maternal vitamin E supplementation increases the supply of the vitamin to the infant by providing more than twice the Recommended Daily Intake.

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