Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in maintaining health and vitality. One of its basic tasks is antioxidant activity. Also, it has been proven that vitamin E protects cells from oxidative stress, which has also been confirmed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).1
Vitamin E naturally exists in eight different forms: four tocopherols, alpha (α)-tocopherol, beta (β)-tocopherol, gamma (γ)-tocopherol, and delta (δ)-tocopherol, as well as four tocotrienols, alpha-tocotrienol, beta-tocotrienol, gamma-tocotrienol, and delta-tocotrienol.
Different sources of vitamin E are authorized in Europe, with D-alpha-tocopherol, DL-alpha-tocopherol, D-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, D-alpha-tocopheryl succinate, and tocopherol mixtures being permitted, while rice tocotrienols tocopherols are currently the only authorized source of tocotrienols in Europe. Following an opinion on tocopherol mixtures, rice tocotrienols/tocopherols, and palm tocotrienols (containing also a minor part of tocopherols) as sources of vitamin E added as a nutritional substance in food supplements, the EFSA concluded that ‘the use of tocopherol mixtures and tocotrienol tocopherol (from rice bran oil distillate) as a source of vitamin E in food supplements for the general population, at the proposed use levels, does not pose a risk to safety. However, the available safety data are insufficient to conclude on the safety of the proposed use and use levels of tocotrienols (from fruits of oil palm (Elaeis Guineensis)).2
As a result, the European Commission ratified the opinion, and rice tocotrienols/tocopherols were indicated as a recognized source of vitamin E in Europe, in accordance with Directive 2002/46/EC of the European Parliament.3
Theraprime® – a unique source of vitamin E
Theraprime® represents a unique source of vitamin E because, unlike all other sources, it provides the complete spectrum of vitamin E isomers, meaning all 4 corresponding tocotrienols and 4 tocopherols.
While the activity of alpha-tocopherol is wellknown, the biological role of tocotrienols has been widely underestimated, despite studies demonstrating their unique physiological functions. Recent research has suggested that tocotrienols, lesser-known relatives of vitamin E, exhibit antioxidant activities4 that are 40 to 60 times greater than those of tocopherols5,6 and possess unique biological functions that are unrelated to antioxidant activity and not shared by tocopherol7. Even among tocopherols, specific importance is attributed to the lesser-known isomers than alpha-tocopherol, as it has been reported that supplementation with high doses of alpha-tocopherol alone depletes the availability of gamma-tocopherol thereby negating the benefits of gamma-tocopherol not shared by alpha-tocopherol, unlike supplementation with gamma-tocopherol, which increases both.(8) Therefore, it has been suggested that the full benefits of vitamin E are best achieved through supplementation with the complete spectrum of vitamin E isomers, so with all 4 corresponding tocotrienols and tocopherols9,10 like in Theraprime® produced by BGG. This being especially important in individuals with insufficient vitamin E intake11 and in the elderly12 (due to the detrimental effect of low tocopherol and tocotrienol intake and serum levels on bone, muscle mass, and cognitive functions).
Rice tocotrienols: the Cardio King
Furthermore, gamma-tocotrienol, one of the primary tocotrienols present in Theraprime®, has been shown to inhibit the enzymatic activity of HMG-CoA reductase without affecting SCAPSREBP, thereby theoretically enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of statins or providing a therapeutic alternative.13,14
These biochemical findings have been supported by several clinical studies demonstrating that tocotrienol/tocopherol mixtures derived from rice bran can support cardiovascular health.15,18
Indeed, rice tocotrienols/tocopherols can be referred to as the “Cardio King” because almost all research on this source has been conducted in areas related to cardiovascular health, particularly cholesterol reduction.
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References:
1 EFSA NDA Panel (EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies), Turck, D, Bresson, J-L, Burlingame, B, Dean, T, Fairweather-Tait, S, Heinonen, M, Hirsch-Ernst, K-I, Mangelsdorf, I, McArdle, H, Naska, A, Neuhäuser-Berthold, M, Nowicka, G, Pentieva, K, Sanz, Y, Sjödin, A, Stern, M, Tomé, D, Van Loveren, H, Vinceti, M, Willatts, P, Martin, A, Strain, S (J.J.), Ciok, J and Siani, A, 2016. Scientific opinion on vitamin E and protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage: evaluation of a health claim pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. EFSA Journal 2016; 14( 10):4588, 8 pp. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2016.4588
2 Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food on a request from the Commission on mixed tocopherols, tocotrienol tocopherol and tocotrienols as sources for vitamin E. The EFSA Journal 2008 640, 1–34.
3 Voir ANNEXE II, A. Vitamines, 3. Vitamin E, point g) de la Directive 2002/46/Ce Du Parlement Européen Et Du Conseil Du 10 Juin 2002
4 Yoshida, Y.; Niki, E.; Noguchi, N. Comparative study on the action of tocotrienols and tocopherols as antioxidant: Chemical and physical effects. Chem. Phys. Lipids 2003, 123, 63–75
5 4. Xu, Z., N. Hua, and J. S. Godber. 2001. Antioxidant activity of tocotrienols,
tocopherols and c-oryzanol components from rice bran against cholesterol oxidation accelerated by 2,2-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride. J. Agric. Food Chem. 49:2077–2081.
6 Deepam, L. S., A. Sundaresan, and C. Arumughan. 2011. Stability of rice bran oil in terms of oryzanol, tocotrienols, tocopherols and sterols. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 88:1001–1009.
7 Aggarwal, B.B.; Sundaram, C.; Prasad, S.; Kannappan, R. Tocotrienols, the Vitamin E of the 21st century: Its potential against cancer and other chronic diseases. Biochem. Pharmacol. 2010, 80, 1613–1631.
8 Jiang, Q.; Christen, S.; Shigenaga, M.K.; Ames, B.N. gamma-tocopherol, the major form of Vitamin E in the US diet, deserves more attention. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2001, 74, 714–722.
9 Brigelius-Flohé, R.; Kelly, F.J.; Salonen, J.T.; Neuzil, J.; Zingg, J.M.; Azzi, A. The European perspective on Vitamin E: Current knowledge and future research. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2002, 76, 703–716.
10 Wu, D.; Meydani, S.N. Age-associated changes in immune and inflammatory responses: Impact of Vitamin E intervention. J. Leukoc. Biol. 2008, 84, 900–914.r
11 Barbara Troesch, Birgit Hoeft, Michael McBurney, Manfred Eggersdorfer and Peter Weber. Dietary surveys indicate vitamin intakes below recommendations are common in epresentative Western countries. British Journal of Nutrition (2012), 108, 692–698
12 Rondanelli M, Faliva MA, Peroni G, Moncaglieri F, Infantino V, Naso M, Perna S. Focus on Pivotal Role of Dietary Intake (Diet and Supplement) and Blood Levels of Tocotrienols and Tocopherols in Obtaining Successful Aging. Int J Mol Sci. 2015 Sep 25;16(10):23227-49.
13 Song BL, DeBose-Boyd RA. Insig-dependent ubiquitination and degradation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase stimulated by delta- and gamma-tocotrienols. J Biol Chem. 2006 Sep 1;281(35):25054-61. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M605575200. Epub 2006 Jul 10. MID: 16831864.
14 Parker RA, Pearce BC, Clark RW, Gordon DA, Wright JJ. Tocotrienols regulate cholesterol production in mammalian cells by post-transcriptional suppression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase. J Biol Chem. 1993 May 25;268(15):11230-8. PMID:8388388.
15 Qureshi AA, Basil A. Bradlow, Winston A. Salser, Larry D. Brace, Novel tocotrienols of rice bran modulate cardiovascular disease risk parameters of hypercholesterolemic humans. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. 1997 May;8(5):290-298.
16 Qureshi AA, Sami SA, Salser WA, Khan FA. Synergistic effect of tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF(25)) of rice bran and lovastatin on lipid parameters in hypercholesterolemic humans. J Nutr Biochem. 2001 Jun;12(6):318-329.
17 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 Mar;161(1):199-207.
18 Baliarsingh S, Beg ZH, Ahmad J. The therapeutic impacts of tocotrienols in type 2 diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia. Atherosclerosis. 2005 Oct;182(2):367-74.