Research shows tocotrienol form of vitamin E superior to regular tocopherol

23 Jul 2024 --- A systematic review conducted by researchers from the National University of Medical Sciences, Pakistan and commissioned by PhytoGaia, comparing the efficacy of two forms of vitamin E — tocopherol and tocotrienol in the management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) — revealed that tocotrienol was significantly more potent than regular tocopherol in improving cardiovascular health.

Tocotrienol has superior antioxidant capabilities and has no reported mortality risk in managing ASCVD patients. While both compounds are structurally similar, they differ regarding their side chains. Tocotrienol is the unsaturated form of vitamin E and tocopherol is the saturated form.

“The antioxidant activity of tocotrienol was reported to be 40 to 60 times more potent than the regular vitamin E tocopherol,” says Dr. Ariati Aris, scientific affairs specialist at PhytoGaia.

“The reported superior efficacy and safety of tocotrienol over tocopherol suggest that tocotrienol could play a pivotal role in managing and potentially reducing the global burden of cardiovascular disease. This breakthrough brings new hope for millions affected by these conditions.”

Good for the heart
The comparative study, published in the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, followed the guidelines set by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Guidelines 2020.

“Like omega-3 DHA and EPA, which are superior to saturated fatty acids in promoting a healthy heart and mind, tocotrienols, the unsaturated form of vitamin E is more potent and superior for cardiovascular and brain health, particularly the gamma-tocotrienol for heart health and alpha-tocotrienol for brain-protection,” says Aris.

The research observes that tocotrienol reduces cholesterol and serum inflammatory biomarkers at a dose of 250 mg daily. On the other hand, tocotrienol reduced C-reactive protein by 40%, malondialdehyde by 34% and gamma-glutamyl transferase by 22%.

Total antioxidant status levels increased by 22% while inflammatory cytokines such as resistin, interleukin and Interferon-gamma were reduced by 15–17%. Tocotrienol also modulates several microRNA expressions related to cardiovascular health.

“Although tocotrienols are naturally present in our diet, relying solely on food sources is often insufficient. At PhytoGaia, we have harnessed the power of tocotrienols in our sustainably sourced product, TocoGaia,” says Bryan See, VP of PhytoGaia.

“Brands and formulators can easily incorporate TocoGaia with other cardioprotective ingredients, such as omega-3, CoQ10 and phytosterols, to support a healthy heart and mind. We will partner with brand owners to create innovative, science-driven products using TocoGaia.”

Consulting multiple databases
One of the major contributors to ASCVD is dyslipidemia, which is marked by elevated levels of low-density lipoproteins cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides, along with reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Known as hypercholesterolemia, it affects people of all ages.

The current review covered literature from multiple databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Library. The study included human clinical trials on tocotrienol or tocopherol to compare their efficacy in patients with atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia, which leads to cardiovascular diseases.

Meanwhile, scientists reveal that consuming over 22% of dietary calories from protein can lead to an increased risk of atherosclerosis — the plaque or buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances on artery walls — by activating immune cells involved in the process. Recent clinical studies suggest that the amino acid leucine plays a crucial role in driving the formation of arterial plaque, which causes the majority of heart attacks and strokes.

In addition, the European Society of Cardiology, in collaboration with the University of Oxford, UK, has presented staggering figures about the cost of cardiovascular diseases on European health care expenses, estimated at €282 billion (US$305 billion) from data collected and processed in 2021. The cost of general health care and long-term care alone amounts to €155 billion (US$168 billion).

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