| Summary: | The majority of earlier studies on vitamin E have focused on its total forms without considering single isoform. Compared to tocopherols, tocotrienols have been poorly studied (Sen et al., 2006, 2007b; Miyamoto et al., 2009). The research trend has, however, been shifted to isoforms of vitamin E other than alpha-tocopherol, namely, the tocotrienols (TCT) (Rahmat et al., 1993). TCT is now found to possess neuroprotective, anticancer, antioxidant, and cholesterol-lowering properties that are different from tocopherol (TCP) isomers (Sen et al., 2004). Deficiency of Vitamin E also causes degenerative diseases such as gamma ataxia and Duchenne muscular dystrophy-like muscle degeneration (Aggarwal et al., 2010). It has been documented that many of the beneficial effects of a-tocotrienol are not shared by α-tocopherol (Sen et al., 2006). Since α-TCT shows better mobility through the cell membrane (Suzuki et al., 1993), tocotrienols are believed to have much more potent antioxidant properties than α-tocopherol (Serbinova et al., 1991). In cardiovascular diseases, efficacy of δ-and γ-TCT, the most potent isomers in supporting cardiac health such as coronary heart disease, ischemia-induced arrhythmia, and reduced heart rate accompanied by improved myocardial efficiency are well evident (Rasool et al., 2008). In addition, the beneficial effect of TCT in preventing osteoporosis by increasing bone formation and suppressing bone resorption has been documented (Maniam et al., 2008). © 2013 by American Oil Chemists Society.
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