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Move over tocopherol. There's a new form of Vitamin E in town. And its name is tocotrienol.
Vitamin E is pretty familiar to many of us. But apparently we've only gotten to know one side of the family. And, it's possible the best was saved for last.
Tocopherols and tocotrienols are both forms of Vitamin E. Both tocopherols and tocotrienols provide antioxidant power. But though they're one big happy family, there's one major difference between tocopherols and tocotrienols.
Tocotrienols are about 50 times stronger than tocopherols as antioxidants. So why are we only hearing about this supernutrient now? Well, it only comes in palm fruit oil.
"Palm fruit oil is composed of 30 percent tocopherols and 70 percent tocotrienols. The oil is extracted from the fleshy mesocarp of the palm fruit, and is useful in a myriad of food preparations. It is said to be the most widely used oil in the world, perhaps because it is more heat stable than other vegetable oils and provides superior taste and texture qualities."
Palm fruit oil improves circulation and reduces clotting. It enhances the immune system. It's good for bones and teeth. Palm fruit oil enhances brain function.
Look for virgin red palm oil for greatest health benefits.
http://www.naturalnews.com/028941_tocotrienols_palm_fruit_oil.html
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Dear Jody,
Thank you for sharing about the importance of tocotrienols on EmpowHer. I would like to take this opportunity to share about the difference between tocopherol and tocotrienol with you and other readers.
Both of these compounds are Vitamin E and are categorized in the family of Vitamin E. Both tocotrienol and tocopherol have the same chromanol ring as the head. The only difference structurally is in their isoprenoid side chain. Tocotrienol has three unsaturated bonds in its isoprenoid side chain whereas tocopherol has all saturated carbon bonds in its side chain. In a very loose term, tocotrienol can be defined as the unsaturated from of tocopherol. While very similar in structure to tocopherol, the tocotrienols have additional biological activities which are not shown by the alpha-tocopherol.
The proven 7 unique and additional health benefits of Tocomin natural full spectrum palm tocotrienol complex compared to the regular tocopherol vitamin E (by over 300 research papers in human, animal models and in-vitro) are:
1. Reversal Atherosclerosis
Palm tocotrienol complex has been shown in double-blind placebo controlled human study conducted at the Kenneth Jordan Heart Foundation (US) to have the ability to reverse atherosclerosis. Palm tocotrienol complex has the ability to reverse arterial blockage of the carotid artery and hence, reduce the risk of stroke and atherosclerosis. The regular tocopherol does not.
2. Serum Total Cholesterols and LDL-Cholesterols Reduction
Palm tocotrienol complex was proven in human and animal studies to have the ability to reduce the production of serum total cholesterols. They were reported to inhibit the enzyme HMG-CoA Reductase in the liver that is responsible for the production of cholesterols. The tocopherol has no effect on serum cholesterol.
3. Superior Antioxidant
Palm tocotrienol complex is a much more potent antioxidant than tocopherol. It has been shown by published research paper that alpha-tocotrienol is 40 – 60 times more potent than alpha-tocopherol in the prevention of lipid peroxidation.
4. Anti-Cancer and Anti-Tumor Properties, especially Breast Cancer
Palm tocotrienol complex especially delta and gamma-tocotrienol have been shown to inhibit certain type of cancers especially human breast cancer cells. Palm tocotrienol complex has been shown by six independent research centers in the world to have the ability to inhibit both the estrogen positive and estrogen negative breast cancer cells. In those studies, alpha tocopherol has no effect at all on human breast cancer cells.
5. Neuron-protection: Protection on Stroke Induced Neuron-degeneration
Tocotrienol has been reported to cross the blood-brain barrier. Alpha-tocotrienol was reported in the Journal of Biological Chemistry to be much more potent than the regular alpha-tocopherol in protecting the brain cells / neurons from glutamate-induced toxicity. For full protection, nanomolar level of tocotrienol was required whereas the regular tocopherol requires micromolar level – a 1000X more potent. Carotech’s research collaboration with the Ohio State University Medical Center on Tocomin® and potent neuro-protection has recently received a research grant in excess of USD 1 million from the United States’ National Institute of Health.
6. Fluidity properties of tocotrienols
Tocotrienols, with their unsaturated side chain, allow them to pass through the membrane bi-layer (mainly made up of unsaturated fatty acid) in a more efficient manner and faster rate compared to the all saturated tocopherol.
7. Anti-Aging: First Line Protection of the Skin
Diet-derived or topically applied tocotrienols preferentially accumulates at the strata corneum of the skin. Being a more potent antioxidant, it is the skin’s first line of defense against free radicals generated by exposure to environment agents such as sun-rays (UV), ozone, chemicals, etc.
Based on the above additional benefits, the tocotrienols are known as "Super Vitamin E", Vitamin E of the New Millennium", etc.
The tocotrienols are a natural form of vitamin E. It is found in our regular diet. While tocopherols are generally present in common vegetable oils (i.e. soy, canola), tocotrienols, on the other hand, are concentrated in cereal grains (ie. oat, barley, and rye, rice bran), with the highest level found in crude palm oil. It is unfortunate that not many consumers are aware of tocotrienols due to the low level in the Western diets.
I hope the above is of interest to you. Please visit the leading educational website for tocotrienol : www.tocotrienol.org. This website is dedicated to the dissemination of information about tocotrienol to the general public/consumers.
In the US, Tocomin SupraBio soft gel capsules can be purchased from the following :-
i) LIFE EXTENSION FOUNDATION - Super Absorbale Tocotrienol - http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements/Item01400/Super-Absorbable-Tocotrienols.html or call 1 800 544 4440
ii) VITACOST's TOCOMIN SUPRABIO - http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Tocomin-SupraBio-Palm-Tocotrienol-Complex. You can purchase this product from the website (Tel : 1 800 381 0759).
iii) TOCO-SORB by Jarrow Formulas - http://www.jarrow.com/product/274/Toco_Sorb_formerly_Toco_Life. This product can be puchased from your local health food stores. Or you can call them at this no : (310) 204-6936
Cheers.
June 16, 2010 - 1:48amThis Comment