By Barrie Tan, PhD, Founder, & Anne Trias, Product Director, American River Nutrition01.05.18
During the 17th and 18th centuries, coloring of foods for aesthetic purposes was fashionable. Among various natural colors introduced at the time was annatto, a pigment that—while novel to those in North America, Europe, and Asia—had been used by South Americans as far back as 3,600 years ago.1 But ancient Mayans, Incans, and Aztecs of Central and South America did not use annatto, also known as Bixa orellana as it was named after Amazon explorer Francisco de Orellana, for coloring purposes alone. Ancient uses of annatto extracts for folk medicine served as a skin protectant, cardiotonic, anti-inflammatory, and even antibiotic.2
Today, annatto is known to be one of the superior sources of tocotrienols, whose researched health benefits mirror some of those passed down from ancient traditions. Unique among the plant kingdom, annatto produces only tocotrienols, whereas all other known sources of this vitamin E nutrient, such as palm and rice, deliver mixtures of tocopherols and tocotrienols, typically containing anywhere from 25-50% alpha-tocopherol. This is one ancient secret steeped into an Amazonian past.
Supplementation: Tocotrienols vs. Tocopherols
The human body does not make vitamin E tocopherols and tocotrienols, but desperately needs them for oxidative protection. How do plants like annatto make vitamin E? Plants photosynthesize and take in carbon dioxide (CO2), and hence plants build chemicals one carbon at a time. These plant chemicals—we call them phytonutrients—are found in different parts of the plant. Tocopherols and tocotrienols are oil-soluble. For example, tocopherols are found in soy oil, mixtures of tocopherols and tocotrienols are found in palm oil, and tocotrienols are found in annatto oil. Diets that contain these plant oils provide tocopherols and tocotrienols, albeit insufficiently. Supplementation is necessary to realize the health benefits they offer.
It is generally true that nature makes a myriad of very similar chemicals of same classes that scientists call isomers—like polyphenols, carotenoids and vitamin Es. If plants make these classes of chemicals, the corollary assumption is that consuming them all produces the best effect. This axiom is not always true, and we should be aware of the exceptions.
Here are some practical examples. Beta-carotene and lutein are carotenoids, and both are good for eye health for different reasons. However, when taken together beta-carotene blocks the absorption of lutein.3, 4 Alpha-tocopherol is the best known vitamin E, and gamma-tocopherol is a potent antioxidant. When taken together, alpha-tocopherol blocks the absorption of gamma-tocopherol.5, 6 This is true with tocotrienols. Alpha-tocopherol blocks the absorption of tocotrienols.7 It has been shown that alpha-tocopherol blocks absorption—and various resultant functions—of the three best known isomers, delta-tocotrienol, gamma-tocotrienol and alpha-tocotrienol.8-12 To capitalize on tocotrienol benefits in human health, check in on alpha-tocopherol: less than 10% is recommended, and zero is best.
Application of Vitamin E: The Fundamental
Mammals need vitamin E for proper growth and protection. Humans need them for literal cellular protection. There are 7.5 billion people in the world, and Americans are a mere 4% of this number. Imagine multiplying the world population by a factor of 10,000, and you arrive at the approximate number of cells that constitute each person’s body: 75 trillion! Each cell wraps its components—which scientists call organelles—with a membrane full of fatty acids, mostly unsaturated with other fatty materials, notably cholesterol. To connect with their outside ocean of water, the fatty acids are attached to water-happy heads of phosphates. Hence, these sorts of fats lining the cell membrane are referred to as phospholipids.
For the proper function of life as we know it, oxygen is found inside and outside of cells, keeping them alive. Now and then the oxygen runs amok—this is what we know as oxygen free radicals—and they damage the easiest prey, the fatty acids of the phospholipids. The architecture of the cell membrane can be damaged and it may lose its gatekeeping integrity of things in-and-out of cells.
If this unwanted oxidation is not kept in check, then inflammation will soon ensue. Michael Brown and Joseph Goldstein (1989 Nobel Prize winners for their discovery of LDL receptors) captured this succinctly, noting that “…if LDL is depleted from its antioxidants, it is left to the mercy of oxygen”.13
Of the many popular antioxidants (e.g., beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, CoQ10), vitamin E is the one nature chose to reside within the lipid cell membrane.14, 15 This is because vitamin E has the perfect shape—like a tadpole, similar to the phospholipids making up the cell membrane, with a head and tail. Tocopherols have a longer tail, whereas tocotrienols have a shorter, agile tail for heightened mobility. This small difference in molecular structure allows tocotrienols to cover a larger surface area of the cell membrane more quickly, hence making them up to 50 times more effective as antioxidants to stop oxygen radicals from damaging fats.16
So through the eons of time mammalian cells have crafted the perfect vitamin E molecules that snuggle uniquely between the phospholipids of cell membranes, 10,000 times the world’s population.
Tocotrienol: Distinctive Features
The loss of oxidative protection can cause inflammation, which underwrites many chronic maladies. Tocotrienols’ best suit today is on mitigating chronic conditions, particularly cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome/diabetes, and cellular derangement. Annatto-derived tocotrienols have been researched clinically in a variety of these applications.
Cardiovascular Health & Anti-Inflammation: Clinical studies have shown that tocotrienols—when taken apart from alpha-tocopherol (due to interference issues7)—lower total cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride levels between 15-20%.17 Further, an optimum daily dose of 250 mg tocotrienols (without tocopherols) lowered C-reactive protein and other inflammation markers between 35-60%.18 Combinations with other anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as quercetin, resveratrol, and B-vitamins can synergize with tocotrienol’s cardio-metabolic benefits, as was shown in clinical trials.19, 20
Bone Health: One relatively recent and exciting area of research for the vitamin is on the subject of bone health, where we may soon see tocotrienols on shelves among staple ingredients such as vitamin D and calcium. Many pre-clinical studies have already shown promise in this area21-24, while a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial is about to be published in 2018. In this study, post-menopausal women with osteopenia were given tocopherol-free tocotrienols over the course of 12 weeks.25 These findings are expected to increase understanding of how tocotrienols work to benefit bone health.
Skin Health: Vitamin E has long been lauded for its skin health benefits. Although quantitatively, alpha-tocopherol comprises the bulk of vitamin E found in the epidermis, tocotrienols—applied orally or topically—also deliver to viable skin layers.26, 27 In this context, tocotrienols have been found to reduce hyperpigmentation28, repair skin damage in wounds29, protect from light exposure30, suppress skin cancer31, and promote wound-healing of the dreaded MRSA infection often associated with hospital environments.32
Of the various E vitamers, delta- and gamma-tocotrienol were the most potent in reducing skin pigmentation and blemishes by inhibiting melanin synthesis30. Delta-tocotrienol was also shown to suppress melanoma31. The SPF value of delta-tocotrienol was reported to be 5.5.30
Most recently, an Italian study has shown annatto tocotrienol to be an effective adjuvant for antibiotic treatment against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In this mouse model, the antimicrobial effect of tocotrienol administered with daptomycin potentiated the natural killer cytotoxicity and elevated wound repair markers. In addition, bacterial load was reduced 1,000-fold compared to the untreated control group.32
Bioavailability: Although pre-solubilized forms of the vitamin have appeared on the market, they are not recommended unless supplementation must occur on an empty stomach. These “bio-enhanced” formulas contain unwanted ingredients that do not conform to clean label preferences, and result in larger capsule sizes that are difficult for consumers to swallow. Tocotrienol bioavailability has been confirmed in clinical pharmacokinetic studies, which support taking the supplement with a meal and in the absence of alpha-tocopherol33, 34.
Full Circle: Amazonia to Present
Annatto may be an ancient plant, but is in no sense a bygone. Just as humans have always had the advantage of plants providing essential vitamin E even though it had not been discovered as a component of lettuce and wheat germ until 1922, ancient civilizations unknowingly reaped the benefits of the yet undiscovered tocotrienols from annatto.
Tocopherols and tocotrienols are both important antioxidants, and fit well inside cell membranes found throughout the human body, where they protect the 75 trillion cells from oxidation. This is a long-standing function of vitamin E, and is imperative to good health.
A growing body of research, however, indicates that tocotrienols go much further, and reverse chronic ills of the cardiometabolic, musculoskeletal, and cellular systems. This is a unique vitamin E proposition scientifically star-powered in tocotrienols, and not shared by tocopherols. Some of these benefits have common platforms with other lipid nutrients, and therefore novel combinations can be feasibly formulated. In today’s fast-pace market of ever-emerging ingredients, a new perspective on an old-fashioned vitamin E staple is opening a new range of health benefit applications.
References
1. Moreira PA, Lins J, Dequigiovanni G, Veasey EA, Clement CR. The domestication of annatto (Bixa orellana) from Bixa urucurana in Amazonia. Economic Botany. 2015;69(2):127-35.
2. Vilar Dde A, Vilar MS, de Lima e Moura TF, Raffin FN, de Oliveira MR, Franco CF, et al. Traditional uses, chemical constituents, and biological activities of Bixa orellana L.: a review. TheScientificWorldJournal. 2014;2014:857292. Epub 2014/07/23.
3. Albanes D, Virtamo J, Taylor PR, Rautalahti M, Pietinen P, Heinonen OP. Effects of supplemental beta-carotene, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption on serum carotenoids in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 1997;66(2):366-72. Epub 1997/08/01.
4. Kostic D, White WS, Olson JA. Intestinal absorption, serum clearance, and interactions between lutein and beta-carotene when administered to human adults in separate or combined oral doses. Am J Clin Nutr. 1995;62(3):604-10. Epub 1995/09/01.
5. Handelman GJ, Machlin LJ, Fitch K, Weiter JJ, Dratz EA. Oral alpha-tocopherol supplements decrease plasma gamma-tocopherol levels in humans. J Nutr. 1985;115(6):807-13.
6. Huang HY, Appel LJ. Supplementation of diets with alpha-tocopherol reduces serum concentrations of gamma- and delta-tocopherol in humans. J Nutr. 2003;133(10):3137-40.
7. Trias AM, Tan B. Alpha-Tocopherol: A Detriment to Tocotrienol Benefits. In: Tan B, Watson R, Preedy V, editors. Tocotrienols: Vitamin E Beyond Tocopherols, 2nd ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 2013. p. 61-78.
8. Khor HT, Ng TT. Effects of administration of alpha-tocopherol and tocotrienols on serum lipids and liver HMG CoA reductase activity. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2000;51 Suppl:S3-11.
9. Qureshi AA, Pearce BC, Nor RM, Gapor A, Peterson DM, Elson CE. Dietary alpha-tocopherol attenuates the impact of gamma-tocotrienol on hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity in chickens. J Nutr. 1996;126(2):389-94.
10. Shibata A, Kawakami Y, Kimura T, Miyazawa T, Nakagawa K. alpha-Tocopherol Attenuates the Triglyceride- and Cholesterol-Lowering Effects of Rice Bran Tocotrienol in Rats Fed a Western Diet. J Agric Food Chem. 2016;64(26):5361-6. Epub 2016/06/14.
11. Shibata A, Nakagawa K, Sookwong P, Tsuduki T, Asai A, Miyazawa T. alpha-Tocopherol attenuates the cytotoxic effect of delta-tocotrienol in human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2010;397(2):214-9. Epub 2010/05/25.
12. Shibata A, Nakagawa K, Tsuduki T, Miyazawa T. alpha-Tocopherol suppresses antiangiogenic effect of delta-tocotrienol in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. J Nutr Biochem. 2015;26(4):345-50. Epub 2015/02/11.
13. Brown MS, Goldstein JL. Atherosclerosis. Scavenging for receptors. Nature. 1990;343(6258):508-9. Epub 1990/02/08.
14. Birben E, Sahiner UM, Sackesen C, Erzurum S, Kalayci O. Oxidative stress and antioxidant defense. The World Allergy Organization journal. 2012;5(1):9-19. Epub 2012/12/27.
15. Traber MG, Atkinson J. Vitamin E, antioxidant and nothing more. Free Radic Biol Med. 2007;43(1):4-15.
16. Serbinova E, Kagan V, Han D, Packer L. Free radical recycling and intramembrane mobility in the antioxidant properties of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocotrienol. Free Radic Biol Med. 1991;10(5):263-75.
17. Qureshi AA, Khan DA, Mahjabeen W, Qureshi N. Dose-dependent modulation of lipid parameters, cytokines, and RNA by delta-tocotrienol in hypercholesterolemic subjects restricted to AHA Step-1 diet. Brit J of Med & Med Res. 2015;6(4):351-66.
18. Qureshi AA, Khan DA, Mahjabeen W, Trias AM, Silswal N, Qureshi N. Impact of delta-tocotrienol on inflammatory biomarkers and oxidative stress in hypercholesterolemic subjects. Clin Exp Cardiology. 2015;6(4):1000367.
19. Qureshi AA, Khan DA, Mahjabeen W, Papasian CJ, Qureshi N. Suppression of Nitric Oxide Production and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Healthy Seniors and Hypercholesterolemic Subjects by a Combination of Polyphenols and Vitamins. Journal of clinical & experimental cardiology. 2012;S5:8. Epub 2012/11/06.
20. Qureshi AA, Khan DA, Mahjabeen W, Papasian CJ, Qureshi N. Nutritional supplement-5 with a combination of proteasome inhibitors (resveratrol, quercetin, delta-tocotrienol) modulate age-associated biomarkers and cardiovascular lipid parameters in human subjects. Journal of clinical & experimental cardiology. 2013;4(3):1-14.
21. Chin KY, Abdul-Majeed S, Fozi NF, Ima-Nirwana S. Annatto tocotrienol improves indices of bone static histomorphometry in osteoporosis due to testosterone deficiency in rats. Nutrients. 2014;6(11):4974-83. Epub 2014/11/13.
22. Chin KY, Gengatharan D, Mohd Nasru FS, Khairussam RA, Ern SL, Aminuddin SA, et al. The Effects of Annatto Tocotrienol on Bone Biomechanical Strength and Bone Calcium Content in an Animal Model of Osteoporosis Due to Testosterone Deficiency. Nutrients. 2016;8(12). Epub 2016/12/17.
23. Chin KY, Ima-Nirwana S. Effects of annatto-derived tocotrienol supplementation on osteoporosis induced by testosterone deficiency in rats. Clin Interv Aging. 2014;9:1247-59. Epub 2014/08/15.
24. Shen CL, Klein A, Chin KY, Mo H, Tsai P, Yang RS, et al. Tocotrienols for bone health: a translational approach. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2017;1401(1):150-65. Epub 2017/09/12.
25. Shen CL, Mo H, Yang S, Wang S, Felton CK, Tomison MD, et al. Safety and efficacy of tocotrienol supplementation for bone health in postmenopausal women: protocol for a dose-response double-blinded placebo-controlled randomised trial. BMJ open. 2016;6(12):e012572. Epub 2016/12/25.
26. Fuchs J, Weber S, Podda M, Groth N, Herrling T, Packer L, et al. HPLC analysis of vitamin E isoforms in human epidermis: correlation with minimal erythema dose and free radical scavenging activity. Free Radic Biol Med. 2003;34(3):330-6. Epub 2003/01/25.
27. Traber MG, Podda M, Weber C, Thiele JJ, Rallis M, Packer L. Diet-derived and topically applied tocotrienols accumulate in skin and protect the tissue against ultraviolet light-induced oxidative stress. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 1997;6(1):63-7.
28. Michihara A, Morita S, Hirokawa Y, Ago K, Tsuji H. Delta-tocotrienol causes decrease of melanin content in mouse melanoma cells. J Health Sci. 2009;55(2):314-8.
29. Musalmah M, Nizrana MY, Fairuz AH, NoorAini AH, Azian AL, Gapor MT, et al. Comparative effects of palm vitamin E and alpha-tocopherol on healing and wound tissue antioxidant enzyme levels in diabetic rats. Lipids. 2005;40(6):575-80. Epub 2005/09/10.
30. Yap WN, Zaiden N, Xu CH, Chen A, Ong S, Teo V, et al. Gamma- and delta-tocotrienols inhibit skin melanin synthesis by suppressing constitutive and UV-induced tyrosinase activation. Pigment cell & melanoma research. 2010;23(5):688-92. Epub 2010/07/09.
31. Fernandes NV, Guntipalli PK, Mo H. d-delta-Tocotrienol-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human melanoma cells. Anticancer research. 2010;30(12):4937-44. Epub 2010/12/29.
32. Pierpaoli E, Orlando F, Cirioni O, Simonetti O, Giacometti A, Provinciali M. Supplementation with tocotrienols from Bixa orellana improves the in vivo efficacy of daptomycin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a mouse model of infected wound. Phytomedicine. 2017;36:50-3. Epub 2017/11/22.
33. Qureshi AA, Khan DA, Saleem S, Silswal N, Trias AM, Tan B, et al. Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of annatto delta-tocotrienol in healthy fed subjects. Journal of clinical & experimental cardiology. 2015;6(11):1000411.
34. Qureshi AA, Khan DA, Silswal N, Saleem S, Qureshi N. Evaluation of Pharmacokinetics, and Bioavailability of Higher Doses of Tocotrienols in Healthy Fed Humans. Journal of clinical & experimental cardiology. 2016;7(4). Epub 2016/08/06.
Today, annatto is known to be one of the superior sources of tocotrienols, whose researched health benefits mirror some of those passed down from ancient traditions. Unique among the plant kingdom, annatto produces only tocotrienols, whereas all other known sources of this vitamin E nutrient, such as palm and rice, deliver mixtures of tocopherols and tocotrienols, typically containing anywhere from 25-50% alpha-tocopherol. This is one ancient secret steeped into an Amazonian past.
Supplementation: Tocotrienols vs. Tocopherols
The human body does not make vitamin E tocopherols and tocotrienols, but desperately needs them for oxidative protection. How do plants like annatto make vitamin E? Plants photosynthesize and take in carbon dioxide (CO2), and hence plants build chemicals one carbon at a time. These plant chemicals—we call them phytonutrients—are found in different parts of the plant. Tocopherols and tocotrienols are oil-soluble. For example, tocopherols are found in soy oil, mixtures of tocopherols and tocotrienols are found in palm oil, and tocotrienols are found in annatto oil. Diets that contain these plant oils provide tocopherols and tocotrienols, albeit insufficiently. Supplementation is necessary to realize the health benefits they offer.
It is generally true that nature makes a myriad of very similar chemicals of same classes that scientists call isomers—like polyphenols, carotenoids and vitamin Es. If plants make these classes of chemicals, the corollary assumption is that consuming them all produces the best effect. This axiom is not always true, and we should be aware of the exceptions.
Here are some practical examples. Beta-carotene and lutein are carotenoids, and both are good for eye health for different reasons. However, when taken together beta-carotene blocks the absorption of lutein.3, 4 Alpha-tocopherol is the best known vitamin E, and gamma-tocopherol is a potent antioxidant. When taken together, alpha-tocopherol blocks the absorption of gamma-tocopherol.5, 6 This is true with tocotrienols. Alpha-tocopherol blocks the absorption of tocotrienols.7 It has been shown that alpha-tocopherol blocks absorption—and various resultant functions—of the three best known isomers, delta-tocotrienol, gamma-tocotrienol and alpha-tocotrienol.8-12 To capitalize on tocotrienol benefits in human health, check in on alpha-tocopherol: less than 10% is recommended, and zero is best.
Application of Vitamin E: The Fundamental
Mammals need vitamin E for proper growth and protection. Humans need them for literal cellular protection. There are 7.5 billion people in the world, and Americans are a mere 4% of this number. Imagine multiplying the world population by a factor of 10,000, and you arrive at the approximate number of cells that constitute each person’s body: 75 trillion! Each cell wraps its components—which scientists call organelles—with a membrane full of fatty acids, mostly unsaturated with other fatty materials, notably cholesterol. To connect with their outside ocean of water, the fatty acids are attached to water-happy heads of phosphates. Hence, these sorts of fats lining the cell membrane are referred to as phospholipids.
For the proper function of life as we know it, oxygen is found inside and outside of cells, keeping them alive. Now and then the oxygen runs amok—this is what we know as oxygen free radicals—and they damage the easiest prey, the fatty acids of the phospholipids. The architecture of the cell membrane can be damaged and it may lose its gatekeeping integrity of things in-and-out of cells.
If this unwanted oxidation is not kept in check, then inflammation will soon ensue. Michael Brown and Joseph Goldstein (1989 Nobel Prize winners for their discovery of LDL receptors) captured this succinctly, noting that “…if LDL is depleted from its antioxidants, it is left to the mercy of oxygen”.13
Of the many popular antioxidants (e.g., beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, CoQ10), vitamin E is the one nature chose to reside within the lipid cell membrane.14, 15 This is because vitamin E has the perfect shape—like a tadpole, similar to the phospholipids making up the cell membrane, with a head and tail. Tocopherols have a longer tail, whereas tocotrienols have a shorter, agile tail for heightened mobility. This small difference in molecular structure allows tocotrienols to cover a larger surface area of the cell membrane more quickly, hence making them up to 50 times more effective as antioxidants to stop oxygen radicals from damaging fats.16
So through the eons of time mammalian cells have crafted the perfect vitamin E molecules that snuggle uniquely between the phospholipids of cell membranes, 10,000 times the world’s population.
Tocotrienol: Distinctive Features
The loss of oxidative protection can cause inflammation, which underwrites many chronic maladies. Tocotrienols’ best suit today is on mitigating chronic conditions, particularly cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome/diabetes, and cellular derangement. Annatto-derived tocotrienols have been researched clinically in a variety of these applications.
Cardiovascular Health & Anti-Inflammation: Clinical studies have shown that tocotrienols—when taken apart from alpha-tocopherol (due to interference issues7)—lower total cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride levels between 15-20%.17 Further, an optimum daily dose of 250 mg tocotrienols (without tocopherols) lowered C-reactive protein and other inflammation markers between 35-60%.18 Combinations with other anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as quercetin, resveratrol, and B-vitamins can synergize with tocotrienol’s cardio-metabolic benefits, as was shown in clinical trials.19, 20
Bone Health: One relatively recent and exciting area of research for the vitamin is on the subject of bone health, where we may soon see tocotrienols on shelves among staple ingredients such as vitamin D and calcium. Many pre-clinical studies have already shown promise in this area21-24, while a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial is about to be published in 2018. In this study, post-menopausal women with osteopenia were given tocopherol-free tocotrienols over the course of 12 weeks.25 These findings are expected to increase understanding of how tocotrienols work to benefit bone health.
Skin Health: Vitamin E has long been lauded for its skin health benefits. Although quantitatively, alpha-tocopherol comprises the bulk of vitamin E found in the epidermis, tocotrienols—applied orally or topically—also deliver to viable skin layers.26, 27 In this context, tocotrienols have been found to reduce hyperpigmentation28, repair skin damage in wounds29, protect from light exposure30, suppress skin cancer31, and promote wound-healing of the dreaded MRSA infection often associated with hospital environments.32
Of the various E vitamers, delta- and gamma-tocotrienol were the most potent in reducing skin pigmentation and blemishes by inhibiting melanin synthesis30. Delta-tocotrienol was also shown to suppress melanoma31. The SPF value of delta-tocotrienol was reported to be 5.5.30
Most recently, an Italian study has shown annatto tocotrienol to be an effective adjuvant for antibiotic treatment against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In this mouse model, the antimicrobial effect of tocotrienol administered with daptomycin potentiated the natural killer cytotoxicity and elevated wound repair markers. In addition, bacterial load was reduced 1,000-fold compared to the untreated control group.32
Bioavailability: Although pre-solubilized forms of the vitamin have appeared on the market, they are not recommended unless supplementation must occur on an empty stomach. These “bio-enhanced” formulas contain unwanted ingredients that do not conform to clean label preferences, and result in larger capsule sizes that are difficult for consumers to swallow. Tocotrienol bioavailability has been confirmed in clinical pharmacokinetic studies, which support taking the supplement with a meal and in the absence of alpha-tocopherol33, 34.
Full Circle: Amazonia to Present
Annatto may be an ancient plant, but is in no sense a bygone. Just as humans have always had the advantage of plants providing essential vitamin E even though it had not been discovered as a component of lettuce and wheat germ until 1922, ancient civilizations unknowingly reaped the benefits of the yet undiscovered tocotrienols from annatto.
Tocopherols and tocotrienols are both important antioxidants, and fit well inside cell membranes found throughout the human body, where they protect the 75 trillion cells from oxidation. This is a long-standing function of vitamin E, and is imperative to good health.
A growing body of research, however, indicates that tocotrienols go much further, and reverse chronic ills of the cardiometabolic, musculoskeletal, and cellular systems. This is a unique vitamin E proposition scientifically star-powered in tocotrienols, and not shared by tocopherols. Some of these benefits have common platforms with other lipid nutrients, and therefore novel combinations can be feasibly formulated. In today’s fast-pace market of ever-emerging ingredients, a new perspective on an old-fashioned vitamin E staple is opening a new range of health benefit applications.
References
1. Moreira PA, Lins J, Dequigiovanni G, Veasey EA, Clement CR. The domestication of annatto (Bixa orellana) from Bixa urucurana in Amazonia. Economic Botany. 2015;69(2):127-35.
2. Vilar Dde A, Vilar MS, de Lima e Moura TF, Raffin FN, de Oliveira MR, Franco CF, et al. Traditional uses, chemical constituents, and biological activities of Bixa orellana L.: a review. TheScientificWorldJournal. 2014;2014:857292. Epub 2014/07/23.
3. Albanes D, Virtamo J, Taylor PR, Rautalahti M, Pietinen P, Heinonen OP. Effects of supplemental beta-carotene, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption on serum carotenoids in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 1997;66(2):366-72. Epub 1997/08/01.
4. Kostic D, White WS, Olson JA. Intestinal absorption, serum clearance, and interactions between lutein and beta-carotene when administered to human adults in separate or combined oral doses. Am J Clin Nutr. 1995;62(3):604-10. Epub 1995/09/01.
5. Handelman GJ, Machlin LJ, Fitch K, Weiter JJ, Dratz EA. Oral alpha-tocopherol supplements decrease plasma gamma-tocopherol levels in humans. J Nutr. 1985;115(6):807-13.
6. Huang HY, Appel LJ. Supplementation of diets with alpha-tocopherol reduces serum concentrations of gamma- and delta-tocopherol in humans. J Nutr. 2003;133(10):3137-40.
7. Trias AM, Tan B. Alpha-Tocopherol: A Detriment to Tocotrienol Benefits. In: Tan B, Watson R, Preedy V, editors. Tocotrienols: Vitamin E Beyond Tocopherols, 2nd ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 2013. p. 61-78.
8. Khor HT, Ng TT. Effects of administration of alpha-tocopherol and tocotrienols on serum lipids and liver HMG CoA reductase activity. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2000;51 Suppl:S3-11.
9. Qureshi AA, Pearce BC, Nor RM, Gapor A, Peterson DM, Elson CE. Dietary alpha-tocopherol attenuates the impact of gamma-tocotrienol on hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity in chickens. J Nutr. 1996;126(2):389-94.
10. Shibata A, Kawakami Y, Kimura T, Miyazawa T, Nakagawa K. alpha-Tocopherol Attenuates the Triglyceride- and Cholesterol-Lowering Effects of Rice Bran Tocotrienol in Rats Fed a Western Diet. J Agric Food Chem. 2016;64(26):5361-6. Epub 2016/06/14.
11. Shibata A, Nakagawa K, Sookwong P, Tsuduki T, Asai A, Miyazawa T. alpha-Tocopherol attenuates the cytotoxic effect of delta-tocotrienol in human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2010;397(2):214-9. Epub 2010/05/25.
12. Shibata A, Nakagawa K, Tsuduki T, Miyazawa T. alpha-Tocopherol suppresses antiangiogenic effect of delta-tocotrienol in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. J Nutr Biochem. 2015;26(4):345-50. Epub 2015/02/11.
13. Brown MS, Goldstein JL. Atherosclerosis. Scavenging for receptors. Nature. 1990;343(6258):508-9. Epub 1990/02/08.
14. Birben E, Sahiner UM, Sackesen C, Erzurum S, Kalayci O. Oxidative stress and antioxidant defense. The World Allergy Organization journal. 2012;5(1):9-19. Epub 2012/12/27.
15. Traber MG, Atkinson J. Vitamin E, antioxidant and nothing more. Free Radic Biol Med. 2007;43(1):4-15.
16. Serbinova E, Kagan V, Han D, Packer L. Free radical recycling and intramembrane mobility in the antioxidant properties of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocotrienol. Free Radic Biol Med. 1991;10(5):263-75.
17. Qureshi AA, Khan DA, Mahjabeen W, Qureshi N. Dose-dependent modulation of lipid parameters, cytokines, and RNA by delta-tocotrienol in hypercholesterolemic subjects restricted to AHA Step-1 diet. Brit J of Med & Med Res. 2015;6(4):351-66.
18. Qureshi AA, Khan DA, Mahjabeen W, Trias AM, Silswal N, Qureshi N. Impact of delta-tocotrienol on inflammatory biomarkers and oxidative stress in hypercholesterolemic subjects. Clin Exp Cardiology. 2015;6(4):1000367.
19. Qureshi AA, Khan DA, Mahjabeen W, Papasian CJ, Qureshi N. Suppression of Nitric Oxide Production and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Healthy Seniors and Hypercholesterolemic Subjects by a Combination of Polyphenols and Vitamins. Journal of clinical & experimental cardiology. 2012;S5:8. Epub 2012/11/06.
20. Qureshi AA, Khan DA, Mahjabeen W, Papasian CJ, Qureshi N. Nutritional supplement-5 with a combination of proteasome inhibitors (resveratrol, quercetin, delta-tocotrienol) modulate age-associated biomarkers and cardiovascular lipid parameters in human subjects. Journal of clinical & experimental cardiology. 2013;4(3):1-14.
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