The Role of Tocotrienol in Arthritis Management—A Scoping Review of Literature

Abstract

Arthritis is a cluster of diseases impacting joint health and causing immobility and morbidity in the elderly. Among the various forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are the most common. Currently, satisfying disease-modifying agents for arthritis are not available. Given the pro-inflammatory and oxidative stress components in the pathogenesis of arthritis, tocotrienol, a family of vitamin E with both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, could be joint-protective agents. This scoping review aims to provide an overview of the effects of tocotrienol on arthritis derived from the existing scientific literature. A literature search using PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases was conducted to identify relevant studies. Only cell culture, animal and clinical studies with primary data that align with the objective of this review were considered. The literature search uncovered eight studies investigating the effects of tocotrienol on OA (n = 4) and RA (n = 4). Most of the studies were preclinical and revealed the positive effects of tocotrienol in preserving joint structure (cartilage and bone) in models of arthritis. In particular, tocotrienol activates the self-repair mechanism of chondrocytes exposed to assaults and attenuates osteoclastogenesis associated with RA. Tocotrienol also demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory effects in RA models. The single clinical trial available in the literature showcases that palm tocotrienol could improve joint function among patients with OA. In conclusion, tocotrienol could be a potential anti-arthritic agent pending more results from clinical studies.

Preventative and therapeutic potential of tocotrienols on musculoskeletal diseases in ageing

“…Furthermore, there are also available reviews that explore the potential mechanisms of tocotrienol in mitigating glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, drawing from existing in vivo and in vitro findings ( Ekeuku et al, 2022 ). In a more recent article published by Singh et al, they conducted a scoping review specifically focusing n the impact of tocotrienol on arthritis ( Tejpal Singh et al, 2023 ). According to the solitary clinical trial uncovered in the existing body of literature, palm tocotrienol could potentially enhance joint function in individuals with osteoarthritis.…”

“…According to the solitary clinical trial uncovered in the existing body of literature, palm tocotrienol could potentially enhance joint function in individuals with osteoarthritis. The author’s conclusion highlights tocotrienols as a promising candidate for its potential role as an anti-arthritic agent ( Tejpal Singh et al, 2023 ). Many recent review papers tend to have a narrower focus, concentrating on specific musculoskeletal conditions rather than addressing the broader spectrum of challenges related to musculoskeletal health.…”

The Effects of Tocotrienol on Gut Microbiota: A Scoping Review

“…A previous study showed that δ-tocotrienol (δTE) supplementation reduced heart and liver inflammation in obese rats [ 37 ]. Our group has previously reported the anti-osteoporotic and anti-arthritic properties of tocotrienol [ 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. Tocotrienol was also shown to enhance the efficacy of daptomycin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an infected wound model [ 42 ].…”