tocotrienols, heart/circulatory diseases, cholesterol

Heart and circulatory diseases are the most common cause of death in Germany - 50% of all deaths. Count dates Heart attack,arteriosclerosis(also Atherosclerosis othe Hardening of the arteries) and Brainstorm(thromboses).

Attempts are made to counteract the known risk factors with immense financial and medical effort.

  • Anticoagulants (e.g. “Marcumar”®) reduce the tendency of the blood to clot. This is intended to counteract the formation of thrombi, especially against the risk of brain stroke.
  • Cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) reduce the cholesterol content in the blood, which reduces the risk of arteriosclerosis.

Although these drug treatments are carried out as a precautionary measure, some of the active ingredients used have significant side effects.

The alternative use of tocopherols (vitamin E) has already been discussed in the past. The conventional vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) has failed. But it turns out these throughtocotrienols(they are natural vitamin E isomers with a highly unsaturated content) provide the hoped-for advantage.

Particularly interesting for the possible future development of drugs is:

Here and in the following chapters we quote an overview from research articles with German translation (the pubmed original can be found under the headings):

June 2024 Comparative efficacy of tocotrienol and tocopherol (vitamin E) on atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in humans

The effect of tocotrienolsn was compared with tocopherols in the treatment of patients with sclerotic cardiovascular diseases.

Results:.. . tocotrienol showed significant anti-oxidant efficacy at (250 mg/d) by decreasing cholesterol and serum inflammatory biomarkers i.e. C-reactive protein (40%), malondialdehyde (34%), gamma-glutamyl transferase (22%) (p<0.001). Total anti-oxidant status (TAS) levels increased 22% (p<0.001) and inflammatory cytokines i.e. resistin, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-12, interferon-gamma were decreased 15-17% (p<0.05-0.01) respectively by tocotrienol. Several microRNA (miRNA-133a, miRNA-223, miRNA-214, miRNA-155) were modulated by δ-tocotrienol. Whereas, tocopherol showed heterogeneity of results by either decreasing or increasing the risk of mortality in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.

The results show with 250 mg/d tocotrienol very good effects on CRP (-40%), malonaldehyde (-34%)gamma-glutamyl transferase (-22%), IL-1, IL-12, interferon-gamma (-15-17%). Tocopherols have shown mixed results, reducing the risk of deathsclerotic heart and circulatory diseases, sometimes increased, sometimes decreased.

 

July 2013:A Review on the use of Statins andtocotrienols, Individually or in Combination for the Treatment of Osteoporosis.

Quote: "Therefore, the adverse effects associated with high statin doses might be avoided with the coadministration oftocotrienols. Furthermore, the combination therapy strategy might be useful for patients who are at high risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular events and hypercholesterolaemia."

In English: "Also, the adverse effects associated with high doses of statins can be avoided by the simultaneous administration of tocotrienolsn. In addition, the combination therapy could be useful for patients with osteoporosis, cardiovascular problems and high cholesterol levels."

Dec 2014:Dose-dependent modulation of lipid parameters, cytokines and RNA by delta-tocotrienol in
Hypercholesterolemic Subjects Restricted to AHA Step-1 Diet

In this clinical study with 31 people, an optimal dose of 250 mg tocotrienols/d was found, in which the following improvements in serum were observed within 4 weeks: total cholesterol: (-15%; P < 0.001), LDL cholesterol (-18%; P < 0.001), triglycerides (-14%; P < 0.001).

In addition, a number of inflammatory factors were mined: TNF-alpha, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10

Another result of the study: there were undesirable effects/side effects even in higher doses of 750 mg/d tocotrienols kalei.

June.2011:Tocotrienol-rich fraction improved blood lipids and oxidative status in healthy elderly people (a randomized controlled study)

62 people of different ages received 160 mg TRF (natural tocotrienol mixture) or placebo for 6 months.

Results for the group that received TRF (tocotrienols):

  • after 6 months of higher levels of HDL cholesterol (p < 0.01)
  • Protein carbonyl was significantly reduced (p < 0.001)
  • In people over 50 years of age, AGE levels were reduced (p < 0.05)
  • after 3 months the total vitamin E in blood was significantly increased (p < 0.01)
  • After 6 months, the tocotrienol level in blood was only increased in those over 50 years old.
  • Change in enzyme activity was only observed in those over 50 years old (SOD reduced)

Conclusion: The observed improvements in plasma cholesterol, AGE and antioxidant vitamins may indicate the restoration of the redox balance by administration of TRF tocotrienol, especially in persons over 50 years of age.

Please use the translation as a guide and refer to the original English text (linked in the headings) for the exact wording.

 

 

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proceed to Is there a replacement for Marcumar / Warfarin?