Singaporean palm oil company, Golden Agri-Resources (GAR), which is among the world’s largest palm oil-based agribusinesses, has stepped up efforts to “dispel misperceptions” while raising awareness about the health benefits of palm oil. These moves come amid the increase in consumer concerns about food safety and nutrition amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Depending on the degree of refining – Wassell highlights that palm oil is a natural source of beta-carotene and tocotrienols (vitamin E).
A team of researchers from Malaysia and Libya recently investigated the effect of Vitamin E, extracted from palm oil, on mice liver cells as its compound is known to have antioxidant effects which protects cells from damage of toxic chemicals produced by metabolic processes.
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.
Supplementation with delta tocotrienol may improve liver health markers in people with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), says a new study that claims to be the first to the efficacy of this vitamin E form in this population.
“Vitamin E has been shown to improve fatty liver in the general population,” says the study’s lead author Dr. Giada Sebastiani, Associate Professor in McGill’s Faculty of Medicine, and scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. “Here we provide evidence for its beneficial effect and safety in people living with HIV, who have a higher prevalence of fatty liver disease.”
Sime Darby Oils (SDO) is changing its business landscape from selling tocotrienols as a supplement product, Natrieo, to treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD with it. NAFLD is the term for a range of conditions caused by a build-up of fat in the liver, which may lead to serious liver damage if left untreated.
Research shows that tocotrienols protect against cardiovascular disease by decreasing artery stiffness, which occurs due to age and the accumulation of fatty plaques on our artery walls, and high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for many cardiovascular conditions.
Although research on tocotrienols is well underway, few have heard of this important, albeit elusive, member of the vitamin E family. Tocotrienols were first discovered in the late 1950s and—originally thought to be tocopherols—were mislabeled with Greek letters such as epsilon and zeta.6 The mistake was recognized,7,8 but official designations in the Merck Index were not corrected until 2001.9,10 It’s not surprising, then, that tocotrienols are only now emerging into public view, and the timing is fortuitous. According to the US Census Bureau, older adults (age 65 and older) will soon outnumber children, and with increasing age comes a heightened risk of chronic conditions. Tocotrienols may help prevent and address aging concerns through their antioxidant properties.
“Vitamin E plays a role in monocyte production, which are large white blood cells that fight against viruses and harmful bacteria,” explains Julie Stefanski, a registered dietitian for Stefanski Nutrition Services in York, Pennsylvania, and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
In Part 1, we discussed the basics of this member of the vitamin E family and explained why tocotrienols have more health benefits than tocopherols. This month we will discuss the amazing tocotrienol health effects on inflammation, heart disease, bone health, metabolic health, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and fatty liver disease.
