The 21st Century Form of Vitamin E - Tocotrienol

Abstract

Vitamin E family constitutes of tocopherol and tocotrienol. Each form has several isomers: alpha,beta, gamma, delta, desmo and didesmo. Although tocopherol is known much earlier, tocotrienol has been discovered more recently.Tocotrienol has higher antioxidant potential than tocopherol. Research shows that tocotrienol can inhibit the induced oxidative damage to lipids and proteins. Cholesterol biosynthesis pathway requires HMG Co A reductase. Tocotrienol degrades HMG Co A reductase protein and in turn lowers cholesterol synthesis. Tocotrienol can reverse ischemia-reperfusion which mediates cardiac dysfunction and induces c-Src protein expression. Tocotrienol prevents oxytosis and offers protection against Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Hungtington's disease. Tocotrienol exerts anticancer property through cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis, inhibition of angiogenesis; antitumor activity. Tocotrienol also possesses anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antiadipogenic and antiatherogenic effect.

Nanomicellar formulation of coenzyme Q10 (Ubisol-Q10) effectively blocks ongoing neurodegeneration in the mouse 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine model: potential use as an adjuvant treatment in Parkinson's disease

“…Vitamin E family consists of tocopherols and tocotrienols (each form has several isomers), which have shown to be neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory (Bardhan et al, 2011). Although the results of some studies suggest that diets rich in vitamin E are protective against PD, other studies show no such benefits (Ricciarelli et al, 2007).…”

Repeatedly Heated Vegetable Oils and Lipid Peroxidation

“…Both tocopherols and tocotrienols possess antioxidant property, with the latter having greater antioxidant property [6]. Vitamin E could effectively protect the fatty acids in the oil from oxidation.…”

“…In addition to the tocopherols, palm oil also contains an abundant amount of tocotrienols. The latter form of vitamin E was consistently shown to possess better antioxidant activity than the former form [6]. The soy oil has bigger proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acid compared to the palm oil.…”

Vitamin E and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

“…These mechanisms are thought to be independent of the antioxidant properties of α-tocopherol as other forms of vitamin E, which have relatively equal antioxidant potency, do not share many of these cellular functions. The cellular activites and regulation of gene expression by various forms of vitamin E have been extensively reviewed elsewhere (31, 32, 34). …”