Tocotrienols are Superior to Tocopherols

An important study by researchers at Ohio State University confirms the power of the tocotrienol form of vitamin E to benefit human health. Once again, researchers showed that tocotrienol vitamin E is far more biologically potent than plain d-alpha tocopherol vitamin E.

The study involved 80 people, some healthy and others in poor health. Skin and blood levels of tocotrienols were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In surgery patients, HPLC was used to determine tocotrienol levels in adipose tissue, brain, heart, and liver. The researchers found that oral supplementation of tocotrienols led to the accumulation of this nutrient in all areas tested. This is the first time this has been proven in a human study.

Of particular importance was the finding that alpha tocotrienol accumulated in the brain at levels proven in animal studies to offer neuroprotection. Many tocotrienol supplements contain only the cholesterol-modulating gamma tocotrienol. Clearly, alpha tocotrienol also has significant value for health, especially for brain health. Thus, supplementation with both alpha tocotrienol and gamma tocotrienol is important.