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The E Complex:
Choosing the Right Vitamin E

THE

E Complex

by

W.H. Leong

Choosing the right vitamin E

tocopherol and corresponding tocotrienols). All these forms of vitamin E work synergistically as a team to confer the maximum antioxidant and cardiovascular protection. Some other examples are mixed carotenoids instead of single betacarotene alone, B complex instead of a single B6 or B12 vitamin alone. The idea that one single form of vitamin E alpha-tocopherol out of eight fractions is the magic vitamin E and assuming that the other forms are worthless denies the very fact that nature put seven other tocopherols and tocotrienols out there for a reason. Natural Mixed Tocopherols It is now known that taking too much alpha-tocopherol both depletes the body of other vitamin E members, especially gamma-tocopherol but also tends to reduce the cholesterol reduction effect of tocotrienols. A recent study published in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that it could be dangerous to take high doses of alpha tocopherol without also consuming gamma tocopherol. What made this study interesting was that it showed that high doses of alpha tocopherol could displace gamma tocopherol in tissues. Studies show that vitamin Es gamma tocopherol form may be more potent than alpha tocopherol in suppressing damaging free radicals. While alpha tocopherol inhibits the production of free radicals to some degree, it is gamma tocopherol that is required to trap and neutralize existing free radicals, as well as key oxidizing agents that generate free radicals. One dangerous free radical producing compound that gamma tocopherol inhibits strongly is peroxynitrite, which is harmful to cells because of its powerful oxidizing and nitrating properties. There is a substantial research documenting the ability of gamma tocopherol to protect brain cells against peroxynitrite damage. Gamma-tocopherol was also reported to be not only significantly more potent than alphatocopherol in delaying blood clot formation in arteries but decreases superoxide free radical generation in arteries, lipid peroxidation, LDL oxidation and increases naturally produced superoxide dismutase activity. An in vitro study conducted at the University of Michigan, which compared the effects of alphaand gamma-tocopherol supplementation on prostate cancer, found that the gamma form was superior for inhibiting cancer growth. Similarly, a recent study published in the Journal of National Cancer Institute advocated the combined usage of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol in the prevention of prostate cancer. In one of the latest published studies, researchers at the University of Uppsala, Sweden To subscribe call toll - free 1 - 888 - 316 - 6051.

Vitamin E supplementation used to be a simple proposition. A recent survey commissioned by the Council for Responsible Nutrition, US (CRN) has concluded that 75 percent of cardiologists recommend vitamin E to their patients and about half of the cardiologists surveyed said they personally use vitamin E. There are new scientific studies published practically every week about vitamin E. Despite these publications, we have been inundated lately with extensive human studies, questioning the benefits of alpha tocopherol form of vitamin E in preventing cardiovascular diseases. Numerous objections were raised against these trialsmost notably the doses usedbut the real problem may have been that alpha-tocopherol does not in itself provide the right vitamin E activity and protection for the heart. These studies were carried out with regular commercial vitamin E supplements that did not contain tocotrienols and other forms of tocopherols (i.e. gamma tocopherol), which might explain some of the inconsistent results in these controlled studies. Vitamin E research has progressed to the point where scientists have identified different forms of natural vitamin E (i.e.: gamma-tocopherol and tocotrienols) that confer better protection against the various types of free radical damages as well as having additional unique properties in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Now scientists believe that more than one type of vitamin E should be a part of a long-term nutritional or supplement program. Tocotrienols are fat-soluble vitamins related to the family of tocopherols. The term vitamin E is now considered to be the generic name describing both the tocopherols and tocotrienols. However, tocopherols and tocotrienols are distinguished by their side tail. While tocopherol has a saturated side tail, tocotrienol possesses an unsaturated side tail. Tocopherols and tocotrienols are further separated into individual compounds assigned by the Greek letter prefixes (a, b, d, g) depending on the number and position of methyl substitution (-CH3) on the chromanol ring. In nature, plants, fruits and vegetables produce both forms of vitamin Etocopherols and tocotrienols. While tocopherols are generally present in common vegetable oils (i.e. soy, canola, wheat germ, sunflower), tocotrienols, on the other hand, are concentrated in cereal grains (i.e. oat, barley, rye, rice bran), with the richest source found in palm (Elaeis guineensis). Almost all vitamin E supplements contain tocopherol (mainly the alpha-tocopherol form) but not tocotrienols. It doesnt matter whether you take natural or synthetic vitamin E, the form used is almost always tocopherol. There is nothing wrong with alpha-tocopherol but if a person expects to obtain the optimal vitamin E antioxidant protection, s/he should take the full
TOTA L H E A LT H VOLUME 24, NO. 4

spectrum vitamin E that consists of both the tocopherols and tocotrienols as produced in nature. Scientific Rationale for a Full Spectrum Vitamin E Complex Vitamin E products currently available on the shelves of most health food stores consist mainly of alpha-tocopherol. In order to produce these alpha-tocopherol products, the original natural mixed tocopherol (alpha, beta, gamma and delta tocopherolas extracted from soybeansalso called non-alpha tocopherol) is converted to a single alpha tocopherol isomer by a chemical process called methylation. What this means to consumers is that their natural vitamin E formulas may not be so natural after all. Unfortunately we have prematurely pinpointed a single compound, alpha-tocopherol, as the magic vitamin E. This has caused many of us to miss the boat when shopping for a vitamin E supplement. Antioxidant NetworkRegeneration Efficiency The tocotrienols unique chemical structures (unsaturated side tail) allow them to move around more freely and efficiently in cell membranes. As a result, tocotrienols can rush in to intercept and neutralize free radicals more efficiently than can tocopherols. Tocotrienols greater mobility allows them to get recharged/regenerated more quickly by vitamin C or glutathione, in a network of antioxidants in the cells. The regeneration effect as part of the antioxidant network is vital in prolonging the vitamin E antioxidant potency. In fact, when antioxidant recycling fails, vitamin E molecules can actually become free radicals themselves, accelerating damage through a process known as tocopherol-mediated peroxidation (TMP). Full Spectrum Vitamin EThe E Complex In nature there are eight forms of vitamin E4 forms of tocopherols and four forms of tocotrienols (alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-

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compared the effect of alpha-tocopherol and mixed tocopherol in reducing hydrogen peroxideinduced lipid peroxidation in human erythrocytes. Interestingly, it was found that the uptake of gamma and delta-tocopherol by the cells was much higher than alpha-tocopherol. The results of the study also indicated that both the alpha-tocopherol and mixed tocopherol protected the cells from lipid peroxidation. However, the mixed tocopherol (alpha, gamma and delta tocopherol) showed a significantly stronger inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation in human erythrocytes, which could be due to the higher uptake of gamma and delta-tocopherol by the cells.

Natural Mixed Tocotrienols Human studies have shown that palm tocotrienol complex has the ability to reverse blockage of the carotid artery and platelet aggregation (i.e. blood clotting), thereby reducing the risk of stroke, atherosclerosis, and other heart disease-related problems. The normal tocopherol vitamin E does not have this ability. Palm tocotrienol complex, as demonstrated by both human and animal studies, can reduce the production of serum cholesterol. Tocopherol does not have this effect. The tocotrienol works by inhibiting cholesterol production in the liver. In one study (American Journal Clinical Nutrition), 42 milligrams of palm tocotrienols per day reduced total cholesterol between 5 to 35.9 percent in 4-6 weeks. More good news is that the HDL level (the good cholesterol) was not affected. The normal tocopherol has no effect on cholesterol level. Studies conducted at the University of Hawaii showed that palm tocotrienol complex, especially the delta-tocotrienol fraction, inhibits the production of vascular adhesion molecules. Hence this suggests that tocotrienols may reduce the risk of developing plaque, the hallmark of atherosclerosis. Six independent research centers in the world have demonstrated that these particular tocotrienols potently inhibit both the estrogenpositive and estrogen-negative breast cancer cells. The delta and gamma forms of tocotrienol can inhibit certain types of cancer cell growth, with the most research carried out on human breast cancer cells. Alpha-tocopherol, on the other hand, showed no significant effect. The protective effect of tocotrienol as an antioxidant is significantly higher than that of the common form of vitamin E, alpha-tocopherol. Studies continue to show that tocotrienols can be considered as a potent natural antioxidant capable of protecting cellular membranes against oxidative damage. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, showed that alphatocotrienol is 40 to 60 times more powerful than alpha-tocopherol in the prevention of lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation leads to free radicals, the underlying cause of cardiovascular disease. Research has also shown that tocotrienols lower apolipoprotein B (apoB) and lipoprotein(a), two known risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Visit our Web site: totalhealthmagazine.com

E
The Blood Pressure Regulator Since the 1960s, researchers have been searching for the molecule in the body that regulates the release of excess water held in the space between its cells, called the bodys pool of extracellular fluid. Finding this factor is not just a scientific curiosity because retaining too much of this extracellular fluid raises blood pressure as well as increasing the risk of congestive heart failure and cirrhosis. In 1996, researchers at Loma Linda University finally identified this molecule as LLU-alpha, which is made from gamma-tocopherol. Subsequently, in 2000, researchers at the University of Tokyo and Linus Pauling Institute found that LLU-alpha was also produced in the body from gamma-tocotrienol through in vivo oxidative metabolism. LLU-alpha, a metabolite of gamma-tocopherol and gamma-tocotrienol, is an important factor in regulating the extracellular fluid volume. COX-2 Inhibitor COX-2 is normally kept in check until it is needed to play its part specifically in the inflammation process. Hence COX-2, if well regulated, plays an important role because inflammation is sometimes needed for the bodys immune response. However, in people with chronic inflammation such as rheumatoid arthritis, uncontrolled COX-2 catalyzes the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which increases inflammation and its associated diseases such as cancer and vascular heart disease. Researchers have reported that compounds that inhibit COX-2 also significantly reduce the risk of having a heart attack and developing various kind of cancer. Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley found that gamma-tocopherol was a better form of vitamin E in inhibiting

Studies with test animals showed that palm tocotrienol complex is a more potent form of vitamin E than alpha-tocopherol in protecting brain cells against oxidative damage and thereby from the ensuing adverse alterations that accompany aging. Lipid peroxides in blood vessels and plasma showed a positive correlation with blood pressure. The antioxidant ability of tocotrienols may prevent development of increased blood pressure and hypertension by reducing lipid peroxides and enhancing the total antioxidant status, including superoxide dismutase activity. Studies conducted at the University of California showed that tocotrienols preferentially accumulate at the strata corneum (uppermost 5 microns) of the skin. This is not surprising, given the fact that being a more potent antioxidant, tocotrienols may well turn out to be the skins first line of defense against oxidative stress generated by UV irradiation and other environmental pollutants. This unique distribution shown by tocotrienols suggests that given the right ingredients, the body naturally knows how to protect itself by distributing them to the right organs in the body.

COX-2 compared to alpha-tocopherol. In addition, the metabolite of gamma-tocopherol and gamma-tocotrienol, LLU-alpha, was also found to be a potent inhibitor of COX-2 enzyme. Tocotrienols, through their ability to reduce the synthesis of an eicosanoid, namely thromboxane B2 in the cyclo-oxygenase pathway, may have anti-inflammatory effect. Moreover, tocotrienols are speculated to inhibit the transcriptional activation of cyclo-oxygenase gene. Back to Nature In nature, almost all plants and oils naturally contain a mixture of the vitamin E isomers. It rarely consists of only one single form of vitamin E. Most of them either contain a mixture of tocopherols (alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-tocopherol) or a mixture of tocotrienols (alpha, beta-, gamma-, and delta tocotrienol) or more often, a mixture of both the tocopherols and tocotrienols. Similarly, the above reminded us of the betacarotene debacle in 1996. We have finally realized the value of other forms of carotenoid such as alpha-carotene, lycopene, lutein, etc. as naturally occurring in fruits and vegetables in the prevention of various free radical-mediated degenerative diseases. Another example is the vitamin B complex, which is a family of various compounds niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, folic acid, etc. In light of this new development, scientists have begun to re-look at their approach towards supplementation. The best approach is to mimic nature as nature knows best. In Summary Collectively known as vitamin E, tocotrienols are identical in structure to tocopherols except for the degree of saturation in their side chain. It is of particular interest that the slight structural differences between tocopherol and tocotrienol can account for the greater biological activities found with tocotrienol. Although most studies have strongly supported vitamin E supplements as an effective therapeutic agent in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer, not all studies have found an association. This discrepancy has raised concerns over current formulations and the vitamin E composition that would be most beneficial in the prevention of these diseases. The right vitamin E to take is one that provides all the eight forms of vitamin E (d-mixed tocopherols and d-mixed tocotrienols)The E Complex, as the most complete and balanced vitamin E formulation. For further information on tocotrienols visit the leading educational Web site: www.tocotrienol.org.

References upon request from totalhealth.

W.H. Leong is vice president of Carotech Inc, USA, the leading supplier of full spectrum tocotrienol complexTocomin. He has extensive knowledge on the production and science of tocotrienols. (Tel: 1-732-906-1901; E-mail: carot3@aol.com).
VOLUME 24 NO. 4 TOTA L H E A LT H 28

Are You Taking The Right

The Council for Responsible Nutrition found that 75% of cardiologists recommend vitamin E to their patients. About half of the cardiologists surveyed take Vitamin E themselves.

Vitamin

E?
THE FULL BENEFITS OF

BUT
What about the recent NEGATIVE studies carried out with regular vitamin E (natural-source d-alpha tocopherol)?

The Next Questions Are:

WHY?
ARE CONSUMERS GETTING

VITAMIN E?

The answer may lies in the composition of Vitamin E supplement that one takes!
Vitamin E supplements currently available in health food stores consist mainly of d-alpha tocopherol or d-mixed tocopherols. Research has progressed to a stage where scientists have identified the additional unique properties and benefits of different forms of natural vitamin E - namely the "tocotrienols". There is more to Vitamin E than just tocopherols. The ideal vitamin E formula should consist of all the 4 forms of tocopherol (d-alpha, d-beta, dgamma and d-delta tocopherol) and 4 forms of tocotrienol (d-alpha, d-beta, d-gamma and ddelta tocotrienol) - as the most complete and balanced Vitamin E supplement. Basically mimicking nature : Nature Knows Best. Hence, to obtain the optimal benefits from Vitamin E, a wholesome mixture of tocopherols and tocotrienols is required. These various forms of natural Vitamin E work synergistically as a team to provide the maximum benefits.

"VITAMIN E IS AN ORCHESTRA, NOT A SOLOIST "

Only Tocomin Natural Full Spectrum Tocotrienol Complex provides significant level of all 4 isomers of tocotrienol : d-alpha, d-beta, d-gamma and d-delta tocotrienol. It is the only true full spectrum tocotrienol complex in the market. For more information regarding this new product concept and Tocomin Natural Full Spectrum Tocotrienol Complex, please call or e-mail to Carotech Inc : Tel : 732-906-1901 ; carot3@aol.com

CAROTECH, INC. Your Preferred Partner In Nutraceutical Excellence