Compared with tocopherols, tocotrienols are poorly studied. Less than 1% of PubMed papers on vitamin E relate to tocotrienols. Current research direction are starting to give more prominence to the tocotrienols, the lesser known but more potent antioxidants in the vitamin E family. Tocotrienols have specialized roles in protecting neurons from damage, cancer prevention and cholesterol reduction by inhibiting the activity of HMG-CoA reductaseblocks processing of sterol regulatory element‐binding proteins (SREBPs).
Oral consumption of tocotrienols is also proven to protect against stroke-associated brain damage in vivo. Disappointments with outcomes-based clinical studies testing the efficacy of α-tocopherol need to be handled with caution and prudence recognizing the untapped opportunities offered by the other forms of natural vitamin E. Toxicity studies of a specific form of tocopherol in excess should not be used to conclude that high-dosage “vitamin E” supplementation may increase all-cause mortality. Such conclusion incorrectly implies that tocotrienols are toxic as well under conditions where tocotrienols were not even considered.
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