Tocotrienol vs. Tocopherol: A Systematic Review Highlights Superior Efficacy in Heart Health Improvement

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A recently published review¹ found that tocotrienol may be more effective than tocopherol in patients with atherosclerotic diseases. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), the study noted, are a cause of increased morbidity globally. Vitamin E, being a fat-soluble antioxidant, is considered to have anti-atherosclerotic properties because of its ability to reduce the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) thus leading to the inhibition of atherogenesis. Vitamin E is composed of tocopherols and tocotrienols. Both have structural similarities because they have a chromanol ring, but have a different side chain. Tocopherol possesses a long saturated tail while tocotrienol has a short unsaturated tail with three double bonds.

The systematic review conducted a literature search for relevant studies—including human clinical studies—and out of 516 qualifying studies identified, data from 5 were analyzed in-depth. The goal was to compare the efficacy of tocotrienols and tocopherols in managing patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The results indicated that at 250 mg/d, tocotrienol decreased cholesterol and serum inflammatory biomarkers and displayed antioxidant efficacy. Additionally, certain Inflammatory cytokines were decreased and specific microRNA were affected. In comparison, tocopherol showed mixed results by either decreasing or increasing the mortality risk in ASCVD.

Citing the study and other research, Ariati Aris, PhD, scientific affairs specialist at PhytoGaia, commented in a press release, “Like Omega-3 DHA and EPA, which are superior to saturated fatty acids in promoting a healthy heart and mind, tocotrienols, the unsaturated form of Vitamin E is more potent and superior for cardiovascular and brain health, particularly the gamma-tocotrienol for heart health and alpha-tocotrienol for brain-protection. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of tocotrienol was reported to be 40 to 60 times more potent than the regular vitamin E tocopherol.”

“The reported superior efficacy and safety of tocotrienol over tocopherol suggest that tocotrienol could play a pivotal role in managing and potentially reducing the global burden of cardiovascular disease,” Aris added. “This breakthrough brings new hope for millions affected by these conditions.”

The review is not without its limitations. For example, the researchers could not find any data comparing tocopherols and tocotrienols efficacy in cardiovascular patients, and there is a lack of conclusive evidence on the efficacy of tocotrienol on different cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, recent clinical trials of tocopherols on dyslipidaemias, hypercholesterolaemia and atherosclerosis in humans were not available.

Reference

1. Rafique, S.; Dilshad, A.K.; Kulsoom, F.; Muhammad, A.K. ; Mudassar, N.; Mahjabeen, S. Comparative efficacy of tocotrienol and tocopherol (vitamin E) on atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in humans. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association. 2024, 74(6) DOI: 10.47391/JPMA.9227