Tocotrienol Safety During Pregnancy: What You Need To Know

Tocotrienols are a form of vitamin E, which is considered a powerful antioxidant. Tocotrienols are found in palm oil, rice bran, barley, oats, and certain seeds, nuts and grains. Tocotrienols have been reported to act as stronger antioxidants than tocopherols, but have lower bioavailability. Tocotrienols have been linked to improved markers of heart disease and reduced risk of pregnancy complications involving oxidative stress, such as pre-eclampsia. Tocotrienols are generally well tolerated and without significant side effects.

Tocotrienols are a form of vitamin E and are considered stable and powerful antioxidants

Tocotrienols are named by analogy to tocopherols (from Greek words meaning to bear a pregnancy; but with this word changed to include the chemical difference that tocotrienols are trienes, meaning that they share identical structure with the tocopherols except for the addition of three double bonds to their side chains. Tocopherols can form 8 stereoisomers due to the presence of 3 asymmetrical carbons in their side chains. Among these isomers, α-tocopherol has the highest biologically active form. α-tocopherol is the most abundant in plasma, cell membranes, other human tissues, and nutritional supplements, whereas γ-tocopherol is the primary form found in the human diet. Tocotrienols have only a single chiral center—the 2' carbon on the chromanol ring, which is where the isoprenoid tail is attached. Unlike the tocopherols, which have additional chiral centers along their saturated tail chain, the unsaturated chain of the tocotrienols instead have double-bonds at this site. Tocotrienols extracted from plants are always dextrorotatory stereoisomers, signified as d-tocotrienols. In theory, (levorotatory; l-tocotrienol) forms of tocotrienols could exist as well, which would have a 2S rather than 2R configuration at the molecules' single chiral center, but unlike synthetic, dl-alpha-tocopherol, the marketed tocotrienol dietary supplements are all d-tocotrienol extracts from palm or annatto oils.

Tocotrienols and tocopherols, collectively known as tocols, are phenolic compounds. Although phenolic and polyphenolic compounds such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, and ellagitannins have received much attention due to their antioxidant activities and potential health benefits, tocotrienols demonstrate activity depending on the type of antioxidant performance being measured. All tocotrienols have some physical antioxidant activity due to an ability to donate a hydrogen atom (a proton plus electron) from the hydroxyl group on the chromanol ring, to free radical and reactive oxygen species.

Tocotrienols are primarily administered orally and, due to their lipophilic nature, their absorption is significantly enhanced when taken with a fat-rich diet. These compounds are mainly absorbed in the small intestine, with absorption depending on adequate pancreatic function, bile secretion, and micelle formation in the intestines. Upon administration, tocotrienols are distributed throughout the body, with higher concentrations observed in plasma and adipose tissues.

Tocotrienols are primarily metabolized in the liver, undergoing ω-hydroxylation by the enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP4F2, followed by β-oxidation. The final metabolites, carboxyethyl-hydroxychromanols (CEHC) and carboxymethylbutyl hydroxychroman (CMBHC), are readily excreted in urine.

Tocotrienols have been linked to improved markers of heart disease. Following exposure to gamma radiation, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the bone marrow, which are important for producing blood cells, rapidly undergo apoptosis (cell death). There are no known treatments for this acute effect of radiation. Two studies conducted by the U.S. Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) found that treatment with γ-tocotrienol or δ-tocotrienol enhanced survival of hematopoietic stem cells, which are essential for renewing the body's supply of blood cells. Based on these successful results of studies in mice, γ-tocotrienol is being studied for its safety and efficacy as a radioprotective measure in nonhuman primates. No human trials have yet been completed.

Tocotrienols are found in palm oil, rice bran, barley, oats, and certain seeds, nuts and grains

Tocotrienols are found in a number of vegetable oils, wheat germ, barley and certain types of nuts and grains. Vegetable oils provide the best sources of these vitamin E forms, particularly palm oil and rice bran oil contain higher amounts of tocotrienols. Other sources of tocotrienols include grape fruit seed oil, oats, hazelnuts, maize, olive oil, buckthorn berry, rye, flax seed oil, poppy seed oil and sunflower oil.

Tocotrienols are found in palm oil, rice bran, barley, oats, and certain seeds, nuts, and grains.

Tocotrienols have been linked to improved markers of heart disease

Tocotrienols are a class of Vitamin E compounds with proven superior antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activity compared to tocopherols (the other class of Vitamin E compounds). Tocotrienols have been linked to improved markers of heart disease. Tocotrienols can be used to improve inflammaging, dyslipidemia and mitochondrial dysfunction in ageing-related cardiovascular diseases.

Tocotrienols can be used to improve arterial compliance and stiffness, which are major complications reported in elderly cardiovascular patients. Tocotrienols can also be used to lower dyslipidemia, including hypercholesterolemia. Tocotrienols can also be used to lower cholesterol by suppressing the activity of HMG-CoA reductase, the hepatic enzyme responsible for cholesterol synthesis. Tocotrienols can also be used to lower the risk of developing new onset type 2 diabetes (NODM).

Tocotrienols are safe and human studies show no adverse effects with consumption of 240 mg/day for 48 months

Tocotrienols are compounds naturally occurring in some food sources, the richest being palm oil, but to a lesser extent rice bran, barley, oats, and certain seeds, nuts and grains, and the oils derived from them. Tocotrienols are generally well tolerated and without significant side effects. Tocotrienols are safe and human studies show no adverse effects with consumption of 240 mg/day for 48 months. Tocotrienol-rich fractions from palm oil are used in nutritional supplements, functional foods, and topically applied anti-aging cosmetics.

Tocotrienols are used in nutritional supplements, functional foods, and topically applied anti-aging cosmetics

Tocotrienols are a group of chemicals that are part of the vitamin E family, which also includes tocopherols. Both tocotrienols and tocopherols have four forms: alpha, beta, delta, and gamma. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, which means it helps to neutralize free radicals—chemicals linked to skin ageing, cancer, and other diseases.

Tocotrienols are compounds that occur naturally in some food sources, the richest being palm oil, and to a lesser extent, rice bran, barley, oats, and certain seeds, nuts, grains, and the oils derived from them. Tocotrienol-rich fractions from palm oil are used in nutritional supplements, functional foods, and topically applied anti-aging cosmetics.

Tocotrienols have been linked to improved markers of heart health and reduced risk of cancer. They may also help prevent and reduce osteoporosis-related bone loss.

Tocotrienols are generally well tolerated and without significant side effects. Human studies have shown no adverse effects with consumption of 240 mg/day for 48 months.

Tocotrienols have been found to protect the skin from inflammation, UV radiation, and melanin accumulation. They can help to prevent and reduce the damage caused by UV irradiation by inhibiting DNA damage, lipid oxidation, telomere shortening, and the reduction in collagen content.

Tocotrienols are known antioxidants that have been incorporated into skincare products due to their anti-ageing properties. Data suggests that oral and topical treatment with tocotrienols can delay skin ageing by decreasing inflammation, melanin accumulation, and filtering UV exposure.

The Expert Panel of the Cosmetic Ingredient Review has assessed the safety of 14 tocopherols and tocotrienols and concluded that these ingredients are safe as used in cosmetics.

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