Tocotrienols Provide Balance

Tocotrienols Provide Balance

By CM Monteleone, Metabolic Analytics Practitioner and World Champion Sprinter

Often, we get lost in tunnel vision. Focusing on our own current world situations, we forget that we can learn so much from civilizations that came before us. Recently, I boarded a train in history to visit the rich and colorful legends of the Ancient Mayan civilization. The Ancient Maya were known to use a combination of religion and science in implementing food as their approach to medicine. Much like other ancient cultures, they viewed everything in a sense of balance. When things were in line with the rules of nature and society, balance was good; health or life force called “Chu’el” was good. Infringement of these rules led to disease and illness. [i] What intrigued me most was their use of supplements to pursue this balance of health and happiness. This, of course, is what I strive to do today for myself and for my clients: use food and supplements to create balance in health and happiness. So, what was my favorite thing I learned from visiting with what we know of the great Mayan culture?

It is well known the Maya people had remarkable insights into mathematics, astronomy and medicine, also leaving behind impressive works of art and architecture (1800 BC- 900 AD) Ancient Maya hunted and ate meat in the forms of: deer, guinea pig, armadillo, monkey, and pig. In the coastal regions proteins included: various fish, lobster, shrimp, conch, turtle and manatee. However, during the middle period of Mayan civilization, possibly due to population bursts, their diet was maize dependent. It is important to note that this “corn” was nothing like the corn we have today.[ii]What is significant is that they recognized that a diet of 70 percent maize needed supplementation. Other than soaking the maize in alkaline solutions to prevent B vitamin and protein deficiency ailments, the Maya used other spices to enhance their metabolic wellness.[iii]

One of these supplements was from the achiote bush. Achiote seed is also known as the spice annatto. Annatto is well known as a natural colorant. It is what gives cheese its orange hue. The Maya cooked with it and added annatto to their sacred, bitter cocoa bean paste drink to give it a deep rich red color. Red, according to Mayan health practices, was the color to support blood disorders.[iv]In further researching annatto, I have come to find that what lies stark in the literature of ancient history, is being “rediscovered” today.

Annatto seeds contain 100% tocotrienols (Toe-koe-try-en-ols) . Tocotrienols have recently been studied as the newly celebrated, unsaturated, forgotten portion of Vitamin E. Let me explain: Vitamin E, first discovered as a fertility treatment in 1922, is composed of 8 parts, or stereoisomers: 4 in the tocopherol (Toe-koff-er-ol) family and 4 in the tocotrienol family. These are further labeled in the alpha, beta, gamma and delta forms making 8 total. Despite having 8 distinct parts, only the tocopherol side has been extensively studied until recently. This was due to an error by early scientists. They assumed that because of protein binding properties, only alpha-tocopherol was absorbed by the liver. Tocopherol, derives from the Greek words for “birth” and to “bear and carry” for it’s initial studies preventing rat miscarriages.[v]

Studies over the decades of the 20th century promoted Vitamin E for it’s antioxidant properties. This fat-soluble vitamin is able to reach the cerebrospinal fluid and the brain. Antioxidants are known to protect our cellular health from ROS or Reactive Oxygen Species, scavenging free radicals. However, for years “Vitamin E” was synonymous with only one portion out of the 8- alpha-tocopherol. In Europe the main dietary tocopherol ingested is alpha-tocopherol from olive and sunflower oils. In America, it is gamma-tocopherol in corn, soy and canola oils. [vi]In certain studies, rats were able to methylate gamma-tocopherol changing it into the body’s preferred form of alpha-tocopherol. Thus, eventually Vitamin E changed in definition from just alpha-tocopherol to include mixed tocopherol supplements. Popularity of Vitamin E in supplement form hit its peak around the year 2000, with its biggest dip coming after a negative correlation study in 2005. [vii] This study reviewed high dose Vitamin E supplementation. In it, all cause mortality was increased. The problem with this conclusion, is that most of these studies were mostly using alpha-tocopherol and sometimes mixed tocopherols. [viii]But, what about the other 4 parts of vitamin E found in the Ancient Mayan achiote seeds-tocotrienols?

Tocotrienols were left out and were poorly understood. Up until the past 20 years, there barely existed any research on these 4 parts of Vitamin E. Yet, Ancient Maya people used this chemical daily to supplement their health! I returned from adventure into ancient Mayan civilization and got on another science train to investigate these fascinating “long tailed” chemicals called tocotrienols.

It turns out, tocotrienols are 40-50 times more potent than tocopherols. Plants produce these oils in their seeds or fruits that are undergoing active cell divisions as a protective feature. Alpha-tocopherol (remember the only source of vitamin E originally recognized and included in the US Recommended Daily Allowance) was not shown to be neuroprotective. Rather, alpha–tocotrienol was the component found to prevent neurodegeneration. [ix] It was found to be several times more potent than alpha-tocopherol in protecting neuronal cells against glutamate toxicity.[x]This is important since glutamate cytoxicity reduces glutathione, our body’s internal anti-oxidant system. Further, intake and serum levels of tocotrienols have been found to have an inverse relationship with Alzheimers Disease. [xi]Defining features of Alzheimers patients are: high levels of ROS and Amyloid beta plaque. While in some trials, tocotrienols decreased the damage done by this plaque.[xii] In a recent 2020 study, alpha-tocotrienols (not the other toccotrienols and not tocopherols) were found to decrease amyloid-beta plaque as well![xiii] White matter lesions, which occur from aging and various ailments, is also reduced with tocotrienols, not tocopherols. [xiv]

In aging-related cardiovascular disease, oxidative stress and inflammation are the two most responsible culprits. When supplementing with tocotrienols, elderly participants in a study had increased Vo2 max and exercise endurance, decreased biomarkers associated with inflammation, lower atheroschlerotic plaque, lower hypertension (blood pressure) , lower myocardial ischemia, lower atrial fibrillation and lower cholesterol production/triglycerides. [xv] Tocotrienols in animal cells inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis by suppressing the enzyme HMGR, resulting in less cholesterol being manufactured by the liver. [xvi]In other studies, while alpha-tocopherol had no effect on cardiovascular disease, tocotrienol was shown to increase artertial compliance in as little as 1 week to 2 months. Arterial compliance, or how well your arteries bend, is a biomarker of cardiovascular health. [xvii] What’s even further interesting is that a mixture of tocotrienols, while lowering cholesterol, was not found to have any effect on arterial compliance. It turns out , it is the gamma- toccotrienols in particular, that reduce the stiffness. [xviii]In regards to inflammation associated with cardiovascular disease, gamma tocotrienol also lowers the inflammatory C-Reactive Protein (CRP) 30 times more than alpha-tocotrienol.[xix] [xx]Lowering inflammation is essential to cardiovascular health. It looks like the Maya people were perhaps correct in assigning red spices, like annatto, which is high in delta and gamma-tocotrienol, in maintaining blood health.

Annatto based tocotrienol supplements, with 90% delta-tocotrienol and 10% gamma- tocotrienol, were shown to have very positive effects on liver function. [xxi]Delta-tocotrienol was further found to have potential to reduce Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. [xxii]

Tocotrienols have even been linked to fighting cancer. Our autophagy process plays a key role in various tissue processes, immune responses and regulation of inflammation. If any part of this goes awry, disease manifests. Hence the balance so sought after by the Maya. Gamma-tocotrienol has been found to support autophagy modulation thereby keeping the balance. [xxiii]In tumor progression, tocotrienols have been shown modulate tumor cells. They also suppress angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels that feed tumors). In addition toccotrienols regulate tumor microenvironment, which is directly related to tumor progression in other organs. [xxiv] These are absolutely fascinating (re) discoveries! Pathways used by tocotrienols to do this include (but are not limited to): Estrogen receptor-Beta binding and triggering of endoplasmic reticulum stress in cancer cells (especially studied in breast and cervical cancer).[xxv] [xxvi]On the contrary, tocopherols, of the originally labeled “Vitamin E” do not possess these same pathways. In 2020, delta-tocotrienols have been found to have the same successful effects in fighting ovarian cancer. [xxvii]Thus both delta and gamma tocotrienols have been repeatedly successful in treating cancer.

Because of the superior capacity of tocotrienols in regulating the balance in our bodies, it is worth a look into introducing them as a supplement in our diet, just as the Maya did. Other areas showing the success of tocotrienols include diabetes, reversing bone loss (gamma-tocotrienol) and gastroprotective effects particularly against stress induced or asprin induced gastric lesions. [xxviii]Annatto seeds, are the greatest natural source, with a major percentage consisting of delta-tocotrienol, followed by gamma-tocotrienol with a bit of alpha-tocotrienol, depending on farming techniques.[xxix]Another source tocotrienols is palm oil. However, it is important to note that palm oil also contains tocopherols ,which, in large doses, can possibly have a negative effect. Palm oil in its natural, unprocessed form, contains mostly alpha-tocotrienol, which as mentioned above, is a component in neuroprotectivity but not as much in cardiovascular function or cancer. Unfortunately most of the palm oil found in today’s products is very processed. Some supplement companies, however, have been successful in sequestering specific types of tocotreniols from both palm oil and annatto for specific needs. Other seed oils such as corn, rice, and soy have very little mixed tocotreniol or tocopherol mixtures.

As we look back at the Ancient Maya, we recognize that these masterminds of science, math, art, architecture and medicine were constantly striving to maintain balance for optimal health, especially when faced with a 70 percent grain based diet. Even though our grains are nothing like the well-prepared ancient grains of their civilization, we can’t help but to correlate that most of America also has a large grain eating population. We also have a terrible high rate of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. If one has a history of eating large portions of grains, I would recommend finding ways to supplement to combat the damage done by these types of diets. Perhaps we should take a lesson from the Maya and one of their favorite spices and consider implementing tocotrienols for bringing balance to our own health and happiness.

*In addition to using the spice in cooking or in coffee, I use one called Annatto E-300 for my clients found in the SHOP MAM store.

CM Monteleone is a World Champion Sprinter and a Metabolic Analytics Practitioner to Olympic and Professional Athletes

[i]Garcia-Kutzbach, A. “Medicine Among the Ancient Maya. South Med 1976

[ii]Difference in modern day corn

[iii]Watson, Rachel. “The Diet and Subsistence Methods of the Maya: Their Health and Cultural Consequences from the Pre-Classic Era to Today.” St. John Fischer College Apr 2017

[iv]“Mayan Medicine,”British Association of Urological Surgeons, www.baus.org

[v]Greek words for tocoopherol

[vi]Wagner, KH, et al, “Gamma-tocopherol – an underestimated vitamin?” Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2004.

[vii]Data from the Nurse’s Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow Up Study tracked usage of Vitamin E supplementation during 1986-2006

[viii]Miller, Edgar. “Meta-Analysis: High Dosage Vitamin E Supplementation May Increase All-Cause Mortality”. Annals of Internal Medicine 2005.

[ix]Riccioni, G et al, “The role of the antioxidant vitamin supplementation in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.” Exper. Opin. Investig. Drugs. 2007

[x]Sen, Chandan K, et al, “Tocotrienol: the Natural Vitamin E to Defend the Nervous System?” Ann NY Acad Sci Dec 2004.

[xi]Xia, Weiming, et al, “J Nutr biochem, May 2016.

[xii]Chin, Kok-Yong, “A Review on the Relationshiop Between Tocotrienol and Alzheimer Disease.” Nutrients, 2018.

[xiii]Ismail, Maznah, et al, “Safety and Neuroprotective Efficacy of Palm Oil and Tocotrienol-Rich Fraction From Palm Oil: A Systematic Review.” Nutrients 2020.

[xiv]Kanchi MM, et al, “Corrigendum to “Tocotrienols: the unsaturated sidekick shifting new paradigms in vitamin E therapeutics.” Drug Discov Today Dec 2017.

[xv]Ramanthan, et al, “Tocotrienol is a Cardioprotective Agent Against Agein-Associated Cardiovascular Disease and Its Associated Morbidities.” Nutr Metab 2018.

[xvi]Colombo, “An Update on Vitamin E, Tocopherol and Tocotrienol- Perspectives.” Molecules. Apr 2010.

[xvii]Aida Hanum Ghulam Rasool , et al, “Arterial Compliance and Vitamin E Blood Levels With a Self Emulsifying Preperation of Tocotrienol Rich Vitamin E.” Arch Pharm Res, Sept. 2008.

[xviii]Raederstorff, et al, “Effect of Either Gamma- Tocootrienol or a Tocotrieonol Mixtrue on the Plasma Lipid Profile in Hamsters. “ Ann Nutr Metab 2002.

[xix]Praad, Kailash, “Tocotrienols and Cardiovascular Health.” Curr Pharm Des 2011.

[xx]Pearce BC, et al, “Hypocholesterolemic activity of synthetic and natural tocotrienols.” Chem 1992

[xxi]Shen, Chwan-Li, et al, “A 12 Week evaluation of annatto tocotrienol supplementation for postmenopausal women. Safety, quality of life, body composition, physical activity, and nutrient intake. “ BMC Complement Altern Med, 2018.

[xxii]Pervez, et al., “Effects of Delta-tocotrienol Supplementation on Liver Enzymes, Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Hapatic Steatosis in Patients with Fatty Liver Disease. “ Gastrolenterol , Mar. 2018.

[xxiii]Deng, Shuo “Targeting Autophagy Using Natural Compounds for Cancer Prevention and Therapy.” Cancer 2019

[xxiv]De Silva, Leanne, et al. “Tocotrienol and Cancer Metastasis,” Biofactors Mar-Apr 2016.

[xxv]Comiato, Rafaella et al, “Tocotrienols induce edoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in cervical cancer cells.”Genes Nutr 2016.

[xxvi]Aggarwal et al, “Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Tocotrienols in Cancer: Recent Trends and Advancements.” Int J Mol Sci 2019.

[xxvii]Thomsen, Caroline Brenner, et al, “Delta Tocotrienol in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer. A Phase II Trial. “ Pharmocol Res Mar 2019.

[xxviii]Aaagarwal, et al, “Tocotrienols, the Vitamin E of the 21st century. Its Potential Against Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases.” Biochem Pharmocol Dec 2010

[xxix]Yong, S.T. et al, “Tocotrienol and tocopherol contents of annatto seed accessions.” Journal of Science and Technology in Tropics. 2014.