RHR: The Health Benefits of Tocotrienols, with Dr. Barrie Tan

Dr. Barrie Tan, one of the world’s foremost experts in vitamin E, joins Chris Kresser in this episode of Revolution Health Radio to discuss tocotrienols and their health benefits. Dr. Tan talks about his discovery of the tocotrienol content in the annatto plant, explains how tocotrienols differ from and interact with tocopherols (the more commonly-known form of vitamin E), and discusses research showing the potential benefits of tocotrienols on everything from osteoporosis and bone health to inflammatory conditions, cardiovascular risk, metabolic conditions, and cancer prevention.

Study: Vitamin E Can Boost Immunotherapy Responses by Reinvigorating Dendritic Cells

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have found that vitamin E can enhance immunotherapy responses by stimulating the activity of dendritic cells in the tumor, according to findings published in Cancer Discovery.

The researchers found that vitamin E directly binds and blocks the activity of the SHP1 checkpoint protein in dendritic cells, which increases antigen presentation and primes T cells for an anti-tumor immune response. Further, the results lead to a possible new therapeutic approach to improve immunotherapy outcomes, including combinations with vitamin E, as well as directly targeting SHP1 in dendritic cells.

7 Amazing Vitamin E Benefits that You Need to be Aware of

Vitamin E is a potent fat-soluble antioxidant that offers significant health benefits to ensure an overall healthy body and prevention from various ailments. It includes a group of eight compounds, that comprises both tocotrienols and tocopherols.

In addition to its antioxidant properties, there are numerous other advantages of Vitamin E that make it a must include in your daily diet. Some of the most popular sources of the nutrient are sunflower seeds, almonds, hazelnuts and wheat germ.

The Incredible Uses and Health Benefits of Tocotrienol

From the vitamin E family, tocotrienol is the chemical. Humans need vitamin E for the proper functioning of the brain and body. You will find four variants of this chemical in nature like alpha, beta then gamma and finally delta. You will find rice bran oil, barley, wheat germ and palm fruit. Our body needs these chemicals, and sometimes food groups do not allow us to get the required amount of the chemical.

Hence, the reference substance materials are also available in the form of pills and capsules. The health properties and uses of the chemical are incredible, and the health benefits are powerful and improve the functionality of body and brain health.

THOUGHTS – Palm Oil in the Cancer Spotlight

NATURE, a high impact, prestigious peer reviewed science journal, published a landmark study last week (10 November 2021) that could help trigger advanced developments in cancer management. The joint publication was from Spanish and US biomedical researchers, in a mice animal model. For the understanding of our lay readers, the study described how cancer metastasis (i.e. when cancer cells break away from the main tumour and start spreading to other organs and sites) is facilitated by consumption of certain dietary fatty acids, particularly palmitic acid, that is part of our daily diets.

Media hounds were quick to pick this up, particularly since they saw the fall guy from the study, a low hanging fruit, ripe and ready for a thorough public bashing. Palm oil was used as a primary source of palmitic acid and by extrapolation and simplification of the study, headlines screamed that palm oil with its higher palmitic acid content was a cancer promoter.

Malaysian Red Palm Oil: The Lesser Known Premium Cooking Oil

Have you ever heard of Malaysian Red Palm Oil (RPO)? Over the years, while great attention has been given to regular golden palm oil, many have overlooked or have not been aware of the presence of nutrient-dense RPO.

The Health Benefits of Tocotrienol

Tocotrienols are chemicals in the vitamin E family. Unlike other forms of vitamin E, tocotrienols are less commonly found in nature. Most of the food we eat contains tocopherols instead of tocotrienols, but several types of vegetable oils, like palm oil, contain high amounts of tocotrienols. Most vitamin E supplements contain tocopherols and not tocotrienols. Studies also suggest that tocotrienol is a more potent form of vitamin E than tocopherol. Research also tells us that tocotrienol has many health benefits.

MPOB develops three palm-based technologies for commercialisation

The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has developed three advanced palm-based technologies for commercialisation.

In a statement on Friday, it said the first is the process and formulation of palm vitamin E/ tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) chewable tablet. The second is palm oil-based polyol for floor coverings for indoor and outdoor and sports flooring markets while the third is a moisturising hand sanitiser with Vitamin E. MPOB said the three are among the technologies approved by the Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities for commercialisation.

Palm oil may help fight cancer

Research by medical experts have revealed that palm tocotrienols act on three different mechanisms in the hallmarks of cancer – tumour suppressors, immune modulation and inflammation. Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) research officer, Dr Fu Ju Yen said the hypothesis on the study conducted showed enhanced absorption of tocotrienols by eight-fold when delivered via nanocarriers.

Vitamin E from palm oil useful in boosting immune response based on studies on liver cells

A team of researchers from Malaysia and Libya recently investigated the effect of tocotrienols extracted from palm oil on mice liver cells. The team investigated the expression levels of genes influenced by a transcription factor Nrf2, and the translocation of the same factor into the cellular nucleus. Nrf2 is known to upregulate phase II drug metabolism in reaction to metabolic processes. The genes activate cellular defense mechanisms. “Our study is the first in vivo study on the effect of tocotrienols on Nrf2on genetic material in the nucleus.,” says Azman Abdullah (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia), corresponding author of the study.