Product Description

Vitamin E is an essential fat soluble vitamin that is naturally available in eight forms consisting of alpha (α), beta (β), gamma (γ) and delta (δ)-tocopherols and α, β, γ and δ-tocotrienols. All eight forms of vitamin E are potent antioxidants that neutralize free radicals, protecting cells against lipid oxidation and DNA damage.

Most vitamin E supplements available in the market usually contain only alpha tocopherol. Extensive research has been done on α-tocopherol, the first recognized form of vitamin E that is also the predominant form found in tissues. The properties of tocotrienols thus remained largely unknown until the 1980s where research has shown that tocotrienols possess powerful antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-cancer and cholesterol lowering properties that differ from tocopherols.₁ With the recent availability of tocotrienols commercially, there has been a paradigm shift to vitamin E supplementation where all isomers of vitamin E are recommended rather than α-tocopherol alone.₂

Vitamin E has been shown:

1. To have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties_3-6
2. To help improve liver function in non-diabetics with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease₇
3. To have neuroprotective benefits to slow progression of Alzheimer’s Disease₈

Conflicting data has been reported regarding effects of vitamin E supplementation which were mainly α-tocopherol on HDL cholesterol. Tocotrienol but not tocopherol increases HDL cholesterol by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, thereby regulating cholesterol biosynthesis.₉

A randomized controlled study was conducted in 2011 where 62 subjects received Palm Essence® for six months. Daily supplementation raised plasma HDL cholesterol levels as early as 3 months, and the magnitude of the increase in HDL cholesterol observed in the study has been associated with a 22.5% reduced risk of cardiovascular events.₁₀

In another randomized placebo-controlled human trial involving 20 hypercholesterolemic subjects aged 25−55, the serum triglyceride level showed statistically significant reduction of 28% compared to the baseline after receiving Palm Essence® for 8 weeks. However, the concentrations of HDL and LDL remained stable during this period.₁₁

SUPPLEMENT FACTS

REFERENSI

1. Sen CK, Khanna S, Roy S: Tocotrienols: vitamin E beyond tocopherols. Life Sci 2006, 78(18):2088–2098.
2. Krishnan K, Stone W, Campbell S: More optimal forms of vitamin E. Letters to the editor. J Am Diet Assoc 2005, 105(2):204-205.
3. Colombo ML. An Update on Vitamin E, Tocopherol and Tocotrienol—Perspectives. Molecules. 2010; 15(4):2103-2113.
4. Serbinova E, Kagan V, Han D, Packer L: Free radical recycling and intramembrane mobility in the antioxidant properties of alphatocopherol and alpha-tocotrienol. Free Radic Biol Med 1991, 10(5):263–275.
5. Serbinova EA, Packer L: Antioxidant properties of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocotrienol. Methods Enzymol 1994, 234:354–366.
6. Ahsan H, Ahad A, Iqbal J, Siddiqui WA: Pharmacological potential of tocotrienols: a review. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2014 Nov 12;11(1):52
7. Chalasani N, Younossi Z, Lavine JE, Diehl AM, Brunt EM, Cusi K, Charlton M, Sanyal AJ: The diagnosis and management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: practice Guideline by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Gastroenterology, and the American Gastroenterological Association. Hepatology. 2012 Jun;55(6):2005-23.
8. R. S. Doody, J.C. Stevens, C. Beck, R.M. Dubinsky, J.A. Kaye, L. Gwyther, R.C. Mohs, L.J. Thal, P.J. Whitehouse, S.T. DeKosky, J.L. Cummings: Practice parameter: management of dementia (an evidence-based review). Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2001 May 8;56(9):1154-66.
9. Qureshi AA, Sami SA, Salser WA, Khan FA: Dose-dependent suppression of serum cholesterol by tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF25) of rice bran in hypercholesterolemic humans. Atherosclerosis 2002, 161:199-207.
10. Chin SF, Ibahim J, Makpol S, Abdul Hamid NA, Abdul Latiff A, Zakaria Z, Mazlan M, Mohd Yusof YA, Abdul Karim A, Wan Ngah WZ. Tocotrienol rich fraction supplementation improved lipid profile and oxidative status in healthy older adults: A randomized controlled study. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2011 Jun 24;8(1):42.
11. Zaiden N, Yap WN, Ong S, Xu CH, Teo VH, Chang CP, Zhang XW, Nesaretnam K, Shiba S, Yap YL. Gamma delta tocotrienols reduce hepatic triglyceride synthesis and VLDL secretion. J Atheroscler Thromb. 2010 Oct 27;17(10):1019-32.