Tocotrienols are one of two primary forms of vitamin E.¹

They play key roles in fighting oxidation,^2,3 modulating immune function,⁴ combatting skin aging,⁴ and more.

While tocopherols are the well-known form of vitamin E, research has shown that tocotrienols carry greater antioxidant potential.⁵

Research further indicates that tocotrienols can help combat aging by blocking DNA damage,^4,6 and they promote healthy aging by supporting immune functions,^7,8 and improving cholesterol values^9,10 and bone biomarkers.³

Five Effects of Tocotrienols

Tocotrienols come in four varieties: alpha-tocotrienol, beta-tocotrienol, gamma-tocotrienol, and delta-tocotrienol.¹¹

These tocotrienol forms of vitamin E provide a variety of anti-aging and health-supporting effects.

Below are five benefits, as demonstrated primarily in human studies:

1. Tocotrienols may protect against DNA damage.

A clinical trial in elderly people has suggested a beneficial effect of tocotrienols against DNA damage,⁶ which is an underlying factor in many aging processes.

In this human study, 64 elderly participants were randomized to receive either a 160 mg tocotrienol supplement or a placebo, daily for six months. At the end of six months researchers found total DNA damage decreased significantly among the tocotrienols group compared to the placebo.

The ability to reduce DNA damage was likely due to antioxidant and signaling properties of tocotrienols either lowering DNA damage or improving repair.⁶

2. Tocotrienols could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in those with poor kidney function.

Elevated triglycerides and low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.¹² In one study, tocotrienols were shown to help improve levels of both factors in patients with advanced kidney disease.

In patients undergoing dialysis for kidney failure, supplementation with a combination vitamin E supplement containing tocotrienols (180 mg) and tocopherols (40 mg) resulted in a drop in triglyceride levels of 33 mg/dL after 12 weeks and 36 mg/dL after 16 weeks. Levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol also increased.⁷

3. Tocotrienols could improve bone health.

A systematic review of preclinical studies suggested that tocotrienols could be useful in conditions characterized by excessive bone loss.¹⁰

In a separate study, a placebo-controlled clinical trial, the impact of supplementing with tocotrienols was evaluated in 89 postmenopausal women with osteopenia (a decrease in bone density that is less severe than osteoporosis). Results were measured in terms of biomarkers of bone metabolism in blood and urine.

Participants were randomized into three groups to receive daily:

• Placebo
• Low dose tocotrienols 430 mg
• High dose tocotrienols 860 mg

Blood and urine samples were collected at the beginning of the study and after 6 and 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, supplementation decreased markers of bone resorption (the breakdown of bone) and improved markers of bone turnover rate (the replacement of new bone) compared to placebo. The high and low doses appeared to be equally effective at improving the status of the bone biomarkers.⁹

4.Tocotrienols may help manage metabolic health.

In individuals with pre-diabetes, supplementation with delta-tocotrienol (300 mg) for 12 weeks led to significantly greater reductions in fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin A1C, insulin, and HOMA-IR (an indicator of insulin resistance and pancreatic beta cell function), compared to placebo.¹³

The researchers concluded that supplementation with delta-tocotrienol significantly improves glycemic control in pre-diabetics.

And in type II diabetics who were using anti-diabetic drugs, taking 250 mg of delta-tocotrienol once daily for six months led to improvements in markers of glycemic control, inflammation, oxidative stress, and miRNA expression.¹⁴

5. Tocotrienols can help modulate immune response.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that attacks joints. In RA, the immune system attacks healthy tissue, causing inflammation and damage, leading to pain and tissue destruction in joints.

Cell studies have shown that tocotrienols help mitigate the bone-destructive processes that contribute to rheumatoid arthritis by decreasing the production of proteins involved in excess osteoclast activation.

Tocotrienols also decreased the differentiation of pro-inflammatory cells, called Th17 cells.² Th17 cells have been implicated in the development of many autoimmune diseases and inflammation.¹⁵

A different type of immune dysfunction can happen when an aging immune system has a weak response to a vaccine, resulting in diminished stimulation of immunity, and thus less protection from the immunization.

In one placebo-controlled clinical trial, participants were randomly assigned to receive supplementation with 400 mg of mixed tocotrienols and tocopherols daily for two months or placebo, to evaluate the effects of the supplement on immune response. Participants’ blood samples were evaluated at the beginning of the study and on days 28 and 56. They received the tetanus vaccine on day 28. The supplemented group showed a significantly enhanced production of immune cells and proteins compared with the placebo group.¹⁶

By bolstering the immune system, these forms of vitamin E may potentially enhance immune response to vaccines, improving their efficacy.

Summary

As potent antioxidants, tocotrienols have benefits throughout the entire body.

Studies show that tocotrienols support DNA repair.

In human studies, tocotrienols have demonstrated benefits in the areas of heart disease risk factors, immune regulation, metabolic health, and biomarkers of bone health.

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension Wellness Specialist at 1-866-864-3027.

References

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