This recent study published in the journal Lipids reveals compelling evidence that tocotrienols are much more effective at reducing inflammation by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression (COX-2) than the common alpha-tocopherol form of vitamin E. The authors state: “Tocotrienols are powerful chain breaking antioxidants. Moreover, they are now known to exhibit various non-antioxidant properties such as anti-cancer, neuroprotective and hypocholesterolemic functions.” They note that different tocotrienols vary in which pro-inflammatory signalling path they inhibit, and go on to conclude: “Collectively, the data suggested that tocotrienols are better anti-inflammatory agents than α-tocopherol and the most effective form is δ-tocotrienol,” although careful reading suggests that a mixed tocotrienol supplement would be most desirable as a safe and side-effect free natural anti-inflammatory agent.
Tag Archives: Vitamin E
Gamma tocopherol arrests growth of prostate cancer cells
This paper elucidates the mechanism by which gamma tocopherol, a form of Vitamin E, reduces inflammation and arrests the growth of prostate cancer cells. Remember that ordinary Vitamin E which contains only alpha tocopherol suppresses gamma tocopherol levels (see the post Do Not Take Ordinary Vitamin E).
Do Not Take Ordinary Vitamin E
Most commercial Vitamin E consists of only the α-tocopherol (alpha-tocopherol) form, while it has been recognized that the β- (beta) and γ-tocopherol (gamma tocopherol) forms are also important for human physiology. This paper presented by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health documents that taking α-tocopherol by itself can cause a deleterious deficiency state of the other forms. This explains some the contradictory findings of earlier studies on Vitamin E. Mixed tocopherol forms are available.