The hidden power in your kitchen: Why scientists are studying palm oil's secret vitamin
Meet tocotrienols, a lesser-known form of vitamin E that research from around the world has shown can support brain and heart health and liver function. Vitamin E comes in eight forms, but only two families matter most: tocopherols (the kind you will usually see in supplements) and tocotrienols. They may sound similar, but their effects can be dramatically different.
Tocotrienols are up to 40-60 timesmore powerful as antioxidants compared to tocopherols and thanks to their unique molecular shape, tocotrienols are able to travel more quickly and deeply into cell membranes, enabling them to neutralize harmful free radicals more efficiently.
Palm oil is especially rich in tocotrienols. The distribution of vitamin E in palm oil is 30% tocopherols and 70% tocotrienols. In contrast, other commonly used dietary vegetable oils, including corn, olive, peanut, sesame, soybean, and sunflower, contain tocopherols exclusively. This explains some of palm oil's health benefits, from neuroprotection against Alzheimer's to supporting cardiovascular health and even exhibiting anti-cancer properties.
Tocotrienols act as scavenger molecules, neutralizing harmful free radicals that damage cells5. The natural tocotrienols and beta-carotene6 compounds found in palm oil have been linked to improved cardiovascular health and reducing the risk of age-related neurodegenerative diseases. By incorporating palm oil into a balanced diet, positive strides can be made towards supporting heart health.
Leading nutrition experts are taking notice of this established research. Dr. Barrie Tan, a trailblazer and the world's foremost expert on vitamin E, has been researching tocotrienols since the 1990s. His work helped identify sources of this compound in palm oil, rice bran, and annatto seeds. He believes tocotrienols are one of the most exciting discoveries in nutrition science today, especially for their effects in fatty organs like the brain and liver.
Closer to home, Dr. Eman Gamal, a Clinical Nutrition Specialist practicing in Riyadh, shares this perspective: "Tocotrienols are an exciting area of nutritional science, especially given their potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Research has linked vitamin E forms like tocotrienols to better heart health, brain function, and protection of liver cells. These compounds also play a role in supporting skin health and may help slow aspects of the aging process. Including natural sources of vitamin E as part of a balanced diet is one way to support overall wellness."
Scientific reviews have documented tocotrienols' role in reducing inflammation, an underlying factor in many chronic conditions. A 2022 study published in the Journal of Functional Foods, examined how tocotrienols interact with inflammation pathways. The researchers found that tocotrienols significantly reduced markers of inflammation in preclinical studies.
Another comprehensive review, published by researchers in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, documented tocotrienols' benefits for brain function, cardiovascular health, and even skin aging. Importantly, they noted that tocotrienols showed no recognized adverse effects in the clinical studies they reviewed, making them a safe and promising area for continued research.
A particularly revealing Swedish study conducted by the Karolinska Institute4 found that individuals with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment had lower levels of tocotrienols and tocopherols in their blood compared to healthy individuals, establishing a clear link between vitamin E forms and cognitive health.
The consistent findings demonstrate that tocotrienols deliver measurable health benefits. With documented effects on inflammation, brain health, and cardiovascular wellness, and with no known side effects, tocotrienols have earned their place in serious nutritional research.
As research continues to build on these established benefits, it's remarkable to consider how compounds in everyday ingredients can contribute to better health. The growing body of evidence shows that sometimes the most powerful nutrients are hiding in plain sight, quietly supporting our wellbeing through ingredients we use every day. The science is clear: these lesser-known nutrients have been delivering real benefits all along.
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Saudi Gazette
17 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
The hidden power in your kitchen: Why scientists are studying palm oil's secret vitamin
We all know vitamin E - it's that friendly ingredient found in moisturizers and supplement bottles. But did you know there's a powerful form of vitamin E, tucked away in palm oil, that scientists across the globe have been studying for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties? Meet tocotrienols, a lesser-known form of vitamin E that research from around the world has shown can support brain and heart health and liver function. Vitamin E comes in eight forms, but only two families matter most: tocopherols (the kind you will usually see in supplements) and tocotrienols. They may sound similar, but their effects can be dramatically different. Tocotrienols are up to 40-60 timesmore powerful as antioxidants compared to tocopherols and thanks to their unique molecular shape, tocotrienols are able to travel more quickly and deeply into cell membranes, enabling them to neutralize harmful free radicals more efficiently. Palm oil is especially rich in tocotrienols. The distribution of vitamin E in palm oil is 30% tocopherols and 70% tocotrienols. In contrast, other commonly used dietary vegetable oils, including corn, olive, peanut, sesame, soybean, and sunflower, contain tocopherols exclusively. This explains some of palm oil's health benefits, from neuroprotection against Alzheimer's to supporting cardiovascular health and even exhibiting anti-cancer properties. Tocotrienols act as scavenger molecules, neutralizing harmful free radicals that damage cells5. The natural tocotrienols and beta-carotene6 compounds found in palm oil have been linked to improved cardiovascular health and reducing the risk of age-related neurodegenerative diseases. By incorporating palm oil into a balanced diet, positive strides can be made towards supporting heart health. Leading nutrition experts are taking notice of this established research. Dr. Barrie Tan, a trailblazer and the world's foremost expert on vitamin E, has been researching tocotrienols since the 1990s. His work helped identify sources of this compound in palm oil, rice bran, and annatto seeds. He believes tocotrienols are one of the most exciting discoveries in nutrition science today, especially for their effects in fatty organs like the brain and liver. Closer to home, Dr. Eman Gamal, a Clinical Nutrition Specialist practicing in Riyadh, shares this perspective: "Tocotrienols are an exciting area of nutritional science, especially given their potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Research has linked vitamin E forms like tocotrienols to better heart health, brain function, and protection of liver cells. These compounds also play a role in supporting skin health and may help slow aspects of the aging process. Including natural sources of vitamin E as part of a balanced diet is one way to support overall wellness." Scientific reviews have documented tocotrienols' role in reducing inflammation, an underlying factor in many chronic conditions. A 2022 study published in the Journal of Functional Foods, examined how tocotrienols interact with inflammation pathways. The researchers found that tocotrienols significantly reduced markers of inflammation in preclinical studies. Another comprehensive review, published by researchers in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, documented tocotrienols' benefits for brain function, cardiovascular health, and even skin aging. Importantly, they noted that tocotrienols showed no recognized adverse effects in the clinical studies they reviewed, making them a safe and promising area for continued research. A particularly revealing Swedish study conducted by the Karolinska Institute4 found that individuals with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment had lower levels of tocotrienols and tocopherols in their blood compared to healthy individuals, establishing a clear link between vitamin E forms and cognitive health. The consistent findings demonstrate that tocotrienols deliver measurable health benefits. With documented effects on inflammation, brain health, and cardiovascular wellness, and with no known side effects, tocotrienols have earned their place in serious nutritional research. As research continues to build on these established benefits, it's remarkable to consider how compounds in everyday ingredients can contribute to better health. The growing body of evidence shows that sometimes the most powerful nutrients are hiding in plain sight, quietly supporting our wellbeing through ingredients we use every day. The science is clear: these lesser-known nutrients have been delivering real benefits all along.
Arab News
16-04-2025
- Arab News
EU approves sale of new Alzheimer's drug, with conditions
BRUSSELS: The European Commission said Wednesday that it had given formal approval for Leqembi, a long-awaited new treatment for early-stage Alzheimer's disease, to be sold in the EU under strict conditions. The authorization was granted Tuesday based on a favorable decision by Europe's medicines watchdog, which after initial misgivings endorsed the treatment last November for a set category of patients. Leqembi, developed by US multinational Biogen and Japanese-based Eisai, is the brand name of an active substance called lecanemab that is used to treat adults with mild memory and cognitive problems resulting from the early stages of the common type of dementia. The first such medicine to be allowed in the EU, the drug was approved in line with the 'positive scientific assessment of the European Medicines Agency,' the commission said in a statement. The EMA 'concluded that the benefits of this medicine outweighed the risks, in a particular population of patients with such disease and as long as risk minimization measures are applied,' the commission said. 'Therefore, the authorization decision also sets strict conditions on the use of Leqembi, as well as clear risk mitigation requirements,' it said. The EMA endorsed the drug only for patients with a lower risk of potential brain bleeding: those who have 'only one copy or no copy of ApoE4,' a type of gene known as an important risk factor for Alzheimer's. Lecanemab has been hailed by Alzheimer's researchers and charities for being the first approved treatment that tackles the early stages of the disease, rather than managing the symptoms. It works by using antibodies that bind to and clear the proteins that normally build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer's, the most common type of dementia. The treatment has been shown to decrease cognitive decline by a quarter in people in the early stages of the disease. Leqembi, together with another Alzheimer's drug called Aduhelm, received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration in 2023.
Arab News
13-01-2025
- Arab News
Up to 4 in 10 people could develop dementia after 55. What you can do to lower your risk
WASHINGTON: About a million Americans a year are expected to develop dementia by 2060, roughly double today's toll, researchers reported Monday. That estimate is based on a new study that found a higher lifetime risk than previously thought: After age 55, people have up to a 4 in 10 chance of eventually developing dementia — if they live long enough. It's a sobering number but there are steps people can take to reduce that risk, such as controlling high blood pressure and other bad-for-the-brain health problems. And it's not too late to try even in middle age. 'All of our research suggests what you do in midlife really matters,' said Dr. Josef Coresh of NYU Langone Health, who coauthored the study in the journal Nature Medicine. Dementia isn't only Alzheimer's Taking longer to recall a name or where you put your keys is typical with older age. But dementia isn't a normal part of aging — it's a progressive loss of memory, language and other cognitive functions. Simply getting older is the biggest risk and the population is rapidly aging. Alzheimer's is the most common form, and silent brain changes that eventually lead to it can begin two decades before symptoms appear. Other types include vascular dementia, when heart disease or small strokes impair blood flow to the brain. Many people have mixed causes, meaning vascular problems could exacerbate brewing Alzheimer's symptoms. Measuring the risk from a certain age over the potential remaining life span can guide public health recommendations and medical research. 'It's not a guarantee that someone will develop dementia,' cautioned Dr. James Galvin, a University of Miami Alzheimer's specialist. He wasn't involved with the new study but said the findings fit with other research. Dementia risk is different by age Prior studies estimated about 14 percent of men and 23 percent of women would develop some form of dementia during their lifetime. Coresh's team analyzed more recent data from a US study that has tracked the heart health and cognitive function of about 15,000 older adults for several decades. Importantly, they found the risk changes with the decades. Only 4 percent of people developed dementia between the ages of 55 and 75, what Coresh calls a key 20-year window for protecting brain health. For people who survive common health threats until 75, the dementia risk then jumped — to 20 percent by age 85 and 42 percent between ages 85 and 95. Overall, the lifetime dementia risk after age 55 was 35 percent for men and 48 percent for women, the researchers concluded. Women generally live longer than men, a main reason for that difference, Coresh noted. Black Americans had a slightly higher risk, 44 percent, than white people at 41 percent. Yes, there are ways to help lower dementia risk There are some risk factors people can't control, including age and whether you inherited a gene variant called APOE4 that raises the chances of late-in-life Alzheimer's. But people can try to avert or at least delay health problems that contribute to later dementia. Coresh, for example, wears a helmet when biking because repeated or severe brain injuries from crashes or falls increase the risk of later-in-life dementia. Especially important: 'What's good for your heart is good for your brain,' added Miami's Galvin. He urges people to exercise, avoid obesity, and control blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol. For example, high blood pressure can impair blood flow to the brain, a risk not just for vascular dementia but also linked to some hallmarks of Alzheimer's. Similarly, the high blood sugar of poorly controlled diabetes is linked to cognitive decline and damaging inflammation in the brain. Stay socially and cognitively active, too, Galvin said. He urges people to try hearing aids if age brings hearing loss, which can spur social isolation. 'There are things that we have control over, and those things I think would be really, really important to build a better brain as we age,' he said.
