Dr. Oz praises palm oil for its tocotrienols, carotenes

Dr. Mehmet Oz strikes again. This time, on his show, he called red palm oil perhaps the "most miraculous find of 2013." He said this oil is "a revolutionary new way to live years longer."

Bryce Wyld, alternative medicine expert, was Dr. Oz's guest, and Wyld said red palm fruit oil "delivers a one-two punch unlike any other nutrient or food out there." The one-two punch he referred to are two compound found in the oil:  carotene, "a super powerful antioxidant" and tocotrienols, "a special form of vitamin E that is very cardioprotective."  Wyld added, "You combine these two together and youre going to stop the aging process, protect the cells and all the tissues in the body."

Dr. Oz and Wyld explained palm fruit oil provides protection against age-related brain and heart diseases, arterial blockage and unhealthy level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Dr. Oz also mentioned a study that found subjects who took palm fruit oil reduced LDL cholesterol levels by 40% in one month. (However, I could not find that study, and couldn't find a reference in the article on palm fruit oil on his website.)

Tocotrienol suppler Carotech was excited that Dr. Oz touted palm fruit oil and called out the vitamin E compounds, according to WH Leong, vice president, Carotech Inc. "As mentioned in Dr. Ozs show, these phytonutrients especially the full-spectrum palm tocotrienol complex are proven by science to have significant unique health benefits such as protection against age-related neurodegeneration, heart, liver as well as skin health," he said.

Science

 A 2011 study found gamma-tocotrienol and alpha-tocotrienol reduced heart disease in a rabbits with high cholesterol. A 2007 study found daily treatment with tocorienols significantly improved cardiovascular parameters in patients with high cholesterol compared to placebo in all groups, significantly reducing total cholesterol (20% to 30%), LDL (19% to 27%), apolipoprotein B (21%) and triglycerides (24% to 3%).

And a recent article I wrote, "Heady hormones, vitamins and minerals" discusses six studies on tocotrienols' ability to reduce Alzheimer's-associated plaque and reduce stroke risk.

 "And we expect more new clinical trial results to be published soon which will further strengthen tocotrienols position as the super vitamin E," Leong added.

Carotene also has its fair share of research, mostly showing its benefits to skin health.

Palm fruit oil has more science backing than some of Dr. Oz's recent praised ingredients, such as raspberry ketones and garcinia, but time will only tell if palm fruit oil becomes as popular as those two weight-management ingredients.

While Dr. Oz likes to be hyperbolic in is praise (the terms "miracle," "holy grail" and  "revolutionary" are thrown around on his show), a company shouldn't fool itself into thinking it can make these claims about their products. A company can also not say Dr. Oz endorses its products (because he doesn't). Learn what a company can say in the article, "Navigating the Dr. Oz Effect" by PR pro Suzanne Shelton.