Tocotrienols are a member of the vitamin E family. Together with tocopherols, they form strong antioxidants that protect the body from damage caused by free radicals and oxidation. Natural tocotrienols come in four types of isomers: alpha, beta, delta and gamma. They are fat soluble and are usually found in fatty foods like coconut oil and rice bran oil. Cereal grains, like barley, oats and rye, are good sources as well. They are also found in large amounts in palm oil and wheat germ oil.
Daily Dose
The recommended daily dosage of tocotrienols is 140 to 360 mg. However, the United States Department of Agriculture claimed that on the average, both men and women are not able to reach the recommended daily allowance for tocotrienols. This dosage is difficult to reach, which results in vitamin deficiency.
Usually, vitamins are synthetically produced as supplements, and they maintain their effectiveness. Synthetic vitamin E, however, adds an L form to its natural D form. The L form is a laterally inverted compound of the D form, although the structure remains the same. While harmless, this lowers the potency of synthetic vitamin E, particularly of tocotrienols. On the other hand, pure and natural tocotrienols are difficult to extract in large quantities. Maintaining the D form only is quite costly too. Synthetic tocotrienols are still not available in the market, but they can be synthetically produced.
Skin Care
Tocotrienols in vitamin E are a popular skincare product ingredient. Aside from their skin-enhancing benefits, these compounds are proven effective in the prevention and treatment of breast, pancreatic, skin and prostate cancers. They help keep the cardiovascular system healthy, and help decrease the risk of diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and cataracts. Tocotrienols also help lower bad cholesterol by signaling the liver to stop producing more cholesterol. A decrease in cholesterol levels prevents artery clogging, which can be fatal.
