Cholesterol: Tocotrienols

The tocotrienol isomers of vitamin E may also help lower cholesterol levels. Tocotrienols are most abundant in palm, rice and annatto, ranging from 50 percent tocotrienols in rice to only desmethyl tocotrienols in annatto. A study presented at SupplySide West in October 2008 by American River Nutrition noting: “Interestingly, alpha-tocopherol interferes with the desirable effects of tocotrienols by blocking absorption of tocotrienols, compromising tocotrienol’s ability to reduce cholesterol, inducing breakdown of tocotrienols and increasing cholesterol in high doses."

In two open clinical studies, tocotrienol supplementation of the delta- and gamma-isoformsin hypercholesterolemic patients confirmed reduced cholesterol levels, while showing reduction of triglyceride levels and a mild increase in CoQ10 levels.

References

In a two-month open study, daily supplementation with 75 mg annatto tocotrienol (approximately 67 mg delta-tocotrienol and 8 mg gamma-tocotrienol) reduced total cholesterol by 13 percent and LDL by up to 15 percent, and increased HDL by 4 to 7 percent.²⁰

A study published in AJP-Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 2008, showed gamma-tocotrienol to be the most potent form of tocotrienol for cardiovascular protection.²¹

Researchers at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine used various isomers of tocotrienols (from Carotech) finding all forms of tocotrienols used (the palm tocotrienol complex and individual tocotrienol isomers) were able to provide significant cardio protection but, gamma-tocotrienol was the most cardio protective of all the isomers. Gamma-tocotrienol was the most effective in: improving post-ischemic ventricular function, reducing myocardial infarct size, reducing the percentage of apoptotic cardiomyocytes, partially protecting the proteasome during ischemia, producing the least MDA content in heart and significantly enhancing Akt Phosphorylation (improve survival). Alpha-tocotrienol was the second most protective followed by delta-tocotrienol.

A 2007 study examined the effect of citrus flavonoids and palm tocotrienols in combination on blood levels of cholesterol and related CVD risk factors.²² Three groups (N=10, N=10, N=120) of hypercholesterolemic men and women between the ages of 19 and 65 were recruited. Subjects were randomized to consume either 270 mg of citrus flavonoids plus 30 mg/d tocotrienols (S; as Sytrinol™, from KGK Synergize) or a placebo (P) for four weeks (Group 1 – G1 and Group 2 – G2) or 12 weeks (Group 3 – G3). Daily treatment with S significantly improved cardiovascular parameters compared to P in all groups.

Significant reductions were shown in total cholesterol (20 to 30 percent), LDL (19 to 27 percent), apolipoprotein B (21 percent), and triglycerides (24 to 34 percent). HDL levels remained unchanged in G1 and G2, but increased by 4 percent in G3 and was accompanied by a significant increase in apolipoprotein A1 (5 percent). Bioavailability of Sytrinol may be enhanced by deliver in a softgel matrix, according to a study conducted by SoftGel Technologies.