Tocotrienols Important for Lipid Balancing and Antioxidant Status

According to a new study, tocotrienols, a form of vitamin E, enhance high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels and support antioxidant status. Vitamin E exists naturally in 8 forms, including 4 tocopherols and 4 tocotrienols.

The subjects included healthy adults grouped by age: 35 to 49 years of age and age 50 and older. The subjects received a tocotrienol-rich-fraction supplement or a placebo for 6 months. Lipids and antioxidant status were assessed at the beginning of the study and again after 3 and 6 months of supplementation.

The results of the study found that HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol) was balanced in the subjects who received the tocotrienol-rich-fraction supplement compared to the placebo group. Protein carbonyl content, a measurement of cellular imbalances after exposure to free radicals, was also lower in the subjects who received the tocotrienol-rich-fraction supplement. Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs)—molecules formed from sugars attaching to proteins and lipids that are associated with pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory events—were lower in the subjects over age 50 who received the tocotrienol-rich-fraction supplement.

Additionally, plasma vitamin E levels were increased after 3 months of tocotrienol-rich-fraction supplementation. In the subjects over 50 years of age, plasma tocotrienol levels were increased after 6 months of supplementation. Antioxidant enzyme activity alterations were seen only in the subjects over age 50.

The researchers concluded that the observed balancing of cholesterol as well as improvement in AGE and antioxidant vitamin levels as well as enhanced protein strength “may indicate a restoration of redox balance after tocotrienol-rich-fraction supplementation, particularly in individuals over 50 years of age.”

Reference:

Chin SF, Ibahim J, Makpol S, Abdul Hamid NA, Abdul Latiff A, Zakaria Z, Mazlan M, Mohd Yusof YA, Abdul Karim A, Wan Ngah WZ. Tocotrienol Rich Fraction Supplementation Improved Lipid Profile and Oxidative Status in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Study. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2011 Jun 24;8(1):42.