Tocotrienols Slow Liver Disease Damage

COLUMBUS, OhioNew research suggests vitamin E tocotrienol (TE) supplementation may be beneficial to patients with advanced liver disease. Researchers at Ohio State Universitys Wexner Medical Center found the natural vitamin E slowed progression of the disease as subjects waited for liver transplants (J Nutr. 2012 Mar;142(3):513-9.). According to scientists, this is the first study documenting successful oral delivery of vitamin E to organs.

Using 80 participants from multiple cohorts, researchers measured vital vitamin E levels after 12 weeks of tocopherols (TCP) or (TE) supplementation. TE patients experienced a 50-percent decrease in model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, compared to TCP's 20-percent drop.

This work is the first to show oral supplements of tocotrienol are being transported to the vital organs of patients," said Chandan K. Sen, associate dean for translational and applied research, OSU College of Medicine, in a statement. This is exciting evidence for patients at high risk for stroke because our previous work identified low levels of TE to be protective against stroke-induced damage to the brain. Findings of this current research are equally excited for patients on the liver transplant list as it increases their chances of receiving a new liver, and therefore survival."

Vitamin E has also been investigated for its heart health and women's health benefits.