Exciting news about tocotrienols, inflammatory diseases cardiovascular health

Curr Pharm Des. 2011;17(21):2147-54.

Tocotrienols and cardiovascular health.

Prasad K.

Author information

Abstract

This review emphasizes the effects of tocotrienols on the risk factors for atherosclerosis, plaque instability and thrombogenesis, and compares these effects with tocopherol. Tocotrienols reduce serum lipids and raise serum HDL-C. Alpha-tocopherol, on the other hand, has no effect on serum lipids. Tocotrienols have greater antioxidant activity than tocopherols. Both reduce the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and advanced glycation end products, and expression of cell adhesion molecules. The CRP-lowering effects of tocotrienols are greater than tocopherol. Tocotrienols reduce inflammatory mediators, δ-tocotrienol being more potent, followed by γ- and α-tocotrienol. Tocotrienols are antithrombotic and suppress the expression of matrix metalloproteinases. They suppress, regress and slow the progression of atherosclerosis, while tocopherol only suppresses, and has no effect on regression and slowing of progression of atherosclerosis. Tocotrienol reduces risk factors for destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. There are no firm data to suggest that tocotrienols are effective in reducing the risk of cardiac events in established ischemic heart disease. Alpha-tocopherol is effective in primary prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD), but has no conclusive evidence that it has beneficial effects in patients with established ischemic heart disease. Tocotrienols are effective in reducing ischemia-reperfusion cardiac injury in experimental animals and has the potential to be used in patients undergoing angioplasty, stent implantation and aorto-coronary bypass surgery. In conclusion, experimental data suggest that tocotrienols have a potential for cardiovascular health, but long-term randomized clinical trials are needed to establish their efficacy in primary and secondary prevention of CAD.

PMID:

 

21774782

 

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21774782
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Gary:
My interpretation is as follows:

CRP, as a measure of inflammation, is arguably a better predictor of cardiovascular risk than cholesterol.  You will note that tocotrienols also reduce glycation which is exciting news for diabetics.  Glycation is also one of the best indicators of the decrement in cellular health associated with ageing.

Tocotrienols may be beneficial for other inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and, I suspect, diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Tocotrienols reduce the risk of blood clots such as seen in cases of deep vein thrombosis and reduce and may even reverse the formation of artherosclrotic plague that can lead to heart attack, stroke, poor eyesight and dementia.

Tocotrienols may reduce ischemia-perfusion cardiac injury - better known as angina and the damage it may cause to heart muscle.

They may be a safe alternative to drugs like aspirin and warfarin.

Tocotrienols are more effective for the above as compared to vitamin E.

As per usual, no researcher is ever going to finish their conclusions without recommending more research.  Got to keep the funding coming in to keep employed.  That's fine - we need much more research about nutrition alternatives to expensive and harmful pharmaceutical drugs; but that does not mean we sit on our hands and wait and wait and wait....

Incidentally, I am not aware of any side effects from taking these other than looking good and feeling great!

Conclusion:

If you are one of the 80% of the population who are at risk of suffering cardiovascular-related ailments during your life time, it makes sense to include tocotrienols in your daily diet.

Please contact me if you are interested in learning more about tocotrienols and whether this may be beneficial for you.  If you have a health condition and on medication then you must arrange a consultation before making any changes or adding a supplement such as these:
http://www.garymoller.com/Consultation/Private-Consultation.aspx

More related articles:

http://blog.garymoller.com/2015/01/first-aid-treatment-for-severe-ankle.html

http://blog.garymoller.com/2015/01/my-ankle-fracture-dislocation-two-weeks.html

http://blog.garymoller.com/2008/01/how-to-prevent-deep-vein-thrombosis-in.html

http://blog.garymoller.com/2008/09/do-natural-health-therapies-work.html

About this website 

The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Candida and Fungal Infections? Gary Moller recommends you explore this programme: Click Here!

Building Bone: The Novel Role of Tocotrienols

Here is an interesting and informative interview with Professor Ima-Nirwana Soelaiman, an expert in the role of tocotrienols in the process of maintaining bone bone strength and healthy ageing (in case you are wondering, I do have tocotrienols available but not for over the counter sales).

Dr Ima-Nirwana Soelaiman

Building Bone: The Novel Role of Tocotrienols

Please contact me if you are interested in learning more about tocotrienols and whether this may be beneficial for you.  If you have a health condition and on medication then you must arrange a consultation before making any changes or adding a supplement such as these:
http://www.garymoller.com/Consultation/Private-Consultation.aspx

About this website 

The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Candida and Fungal Infections? Gary Moller recommends you explore this programme: Click Here!

Natural vitamin E may slash lung cancer risk by more than 50%

Increasing intakes of vitamin E may decrease the risk of lung cancer by over 50 per cent, according to a new study from the US.

Researchers from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center report that intakes of vitamin E in the alpha-tocopherol form were associated with consistent and independent reductions in lung cancer risk. Other forms of the vitamin did not have any effects on their own, they added.

“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to compare dietary intakes of the different forms of tocopherols (alpha-, beta-, gamma and delta-tocopherol) and lung cancer risk,” wrote lead author Somdat Mahabir in the International Journal of Cancer.

“Our large lung cancer case-control study adds meaningful data on alpha-, gamma-, beta- and delta-tocopherol to the literature,”

There are eight forms of vitamin E: four tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta) and four tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta). Alpha-tocopherol is the main source found in supplements and in the European diet, while gamma-tocopherol is the most common form in the American diet.
For the complete article, please go here.
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Gary comments:
Natural vitamin E has many health benefits, including being a powerful fat antioxidant (stops fats from going rancid). The article above gives the clue why some vitamin E studies are inclonclusive; whereas others like the one here are so convincing. The reason is simple: Compare not just apples with apples; but be aware that there are different varieties of apples with different qualities. The same is with vitamin E: alpha-tocopherolis is not quite the same as the other varieties of vitamin E.

I have been promoting Natural Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol ) for protection against blood clotting (read my articles about Deep Vein Thrombosis). Of course, it has many other benefits for the heart and circulation and for the connective tissue, including skin. Of course, vitamin E and C are great for any kind of chronic lung condition.

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How to use Natural Vitamin E to prevent and reverse heart disease

"To die from heart attack is both unnecessary and tragic. Information is now readily available explaining how heart disease can be prevented and reversed with simple inexpensive nutritional supplements at home. One need only read the information, and the evidence is overwhelming. There is no need for expensive drugs, cath labs or bypass operations. A simple combination of Vitamin C, Lysine, and the Tocotrienol Form of Vitamin E is sufficient to prevent and reverse heart disease."
Dr Dach

Learn about the health benefits of modest daily amounts of vitamin E.  Learn about the difference between natural and synthetic vitamin E and learn about the misinformation designed to discredit this natural health wonder.

Please go here for Dr Dach's dissertation: "Vitamin E, Curse or Blessing?"

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Will turmeric help warm cold hands and feet?

I have for years had poor circulation in my hands and feet, and get purple fingernails and cold hands on cold days. A friend has suggested Turmeric tablets; her husband has apparently taken them with good results. Your views?

"G"

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Gary comments:
As background, "G" has a lanky frame.  He is in his 50's.  He is sedentary, lightly muscled and is not known to frequent sunseeker clubs.  He has recently suffered a bad arm fracture and has previously consulted me about knee and muscle pain.

Chronic deficiency in the fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) may be key factors in cases of joint and muscle pain, fragile bones and depressed metabolism as indicated by the poor circulation and cold limbs.  This is a growing health issue nowadays as the harm from the low-fat health messages are wreaked upon the well intentioned.  There is a good case for a course of several months of boosting these levels with some modest supplementation.

Minerals should be replenished as well.  Protein should be dribbled into the body daily by incuding a little in each meal rather than during one meal alone.  Minerals and proteins give strtength and structure to the body, including the bones.  Along with the Fat soluble vitamins they help stoke and sustain the metabolic fires.

It would help to get back to as natural a diet as possible with as much variety as one can get in home cooking - all kinds of meats, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, whole mik, cheeses and fruit.  If it is sold in plastic, if it has any kind of additive, hydrogenated fats etc, then get rid of it!  Eat what Granny used to call "food".

Exercise daily - Brisk walking and lifting modest weights above the head about 20 times from ground level will do the job.

Turmeric?

Turmeric is a favourite of ours when cooking.  Any of the the brightly coloured spices are great for you.  These have many health benefits.  Turmeric may boost metabolism and it may have anti-cancer properties.  What could be better than turmeric as a food spice, taken in conjunction with the fat soluble vitamins?  I do not think you need to take it as pills.  Cook with it.

Vitamin K

One or more generous servings per day of dark greens - brocolli, spinach, silverbeet or taro leaves.  Cook in NZ butter or cocnut oil.  The fat is essential to dissolve the fat soluble vitamin K and to transport it into the blood and to the cells.

Do you have a question?
Email Gary: gary at myotec.co.nz (Replace the "at" with @ and remove spaces). Please include any relevant background information to your question.

Nutrients for keeping your arteries healthy flexible

As we get older our arteries tend to lose their flexibility. They harden. This shows as an increase in blood pressure. If we were listening to the pulse of hardening arteries through a stethoscope we would hear a hard wooden knock as compared to a soft thud as the heart ejects each pulse of blood into healthy arteries.

Maintain sexual performance by looking after your arteries

Sexual drive and performance relies on the healthy functioning of a number of mind and body systems, including healthy circulation - the ability of the arteries to contract and relax freely. This applies as much to women as much as it does to men, so strategies to improve arterial health should be beneficial for your sex life as well!

All is not lost. Every part of your body is renewed with even the bones being completely replaced about every 6-7 years or so. So, one can assume that arteries can be softened up to some degree if the conditions are right. This starts with good nutrition and we now know nowadays that there are several nutrients that are beneficial for keeping arteries healthy:

Vitamin E
Vitamin E has been used for decades, if not longer, for softening scar tissue. Numerous studies have confirmed the benefits of vitamin E in improving arterial health. This ability to maintain normal blood vessel tone may partly account for vitamin E's benefits in preventing cardiovascular diseases. There has been some adverse, confusing publicity about vitamin E recently. Do not worry; the bulk of the evidence is in favour of the health benefits of natural vitamin E. Stay away from synthetic vitamin E.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is essential for maintaining healthy collagen tissue. The extreme of unhealthy collagen due to vitamin C deficiency if scurvy. Arteries are made up of collagen among other substances. Vitamin C can also provide some protection of the blood vessels against homocycsteine which is one of the most reliable predictors of heart disease.

L-Arginine
This amino acid is the precursor to nitric oxide, and it is known that nitric oxide can increase the flexibility of arterial walls. Nitric oxide increases endothelial flexibility, and studies have found L-Arginine supplements helpful in angina pain and congestive heart failure. As people age the production of L-Arginine decreases and many experts believe this is responsible for many degenerative processes related to aging. Natural sources include: Nuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, chocolate, popcorn, raisins, brown rice, carob, gelatin desserts, oatmeal, whole wheat bread, and protein rich foods including whey protein.
Vitamin C may further improve the activity of L-arginine.

Garlic
Garlic is rich in antioxidants and increases nitric oxide production. When cloves are chewed, crushed or cut, they release a sulphur-bearing compound called allicin - the chemical that gives garlic its pungent taste and smell. And it's the allicin that scientists have discovered is the magic ingredient thought to be responsible for garlic's many therapeutic qualities. Kyolic garlic and garlic oil are both potent sources of the active ingredients of garlic.

Alpha-Lipoic AcidThis antioxidant has long been used to treat symptoms of diabetic nerve disease. Alpha-lipoic acid works together with other antioxidants such as vitamins C and E. It is important for growth, helps to prevent cell damage, and helps the body rid itself of harmful substances. It has recently been shown to be beneficial for blood vessel health. Good food sources of alpha-lipoic acid include spinach, broccoli, beef, yeast (particularly Brewer's yeast), and certain organ meats (such as the kidney and heart).

Evening Primrose Oil (EPO)
EPO is rich in the essential gamma-linoleinc acid (GLA), a very valuable fatty acid that is not found in many plants. It has numerous vital functions in the body. GLA is an essential fatty acid that the body does not manufacture. This fatty acid is known to help prevent hardening of the arteries, heart disease, eczema, cirrhosis, rheumatoid arthritis, menopause, PMS, multiple sclerosis, and high blood pressure. It has a positive effect on sex hormone response including the hormones estrogen and testosterone, aids in lowering cholesterol levels, and is important in treating cirrhosis of the liver. Research also demonstrates that primrose oil helps relieve pain and inflammation.

Flavonoids
Flavonoids are a family of more than 5,000 potent antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables. Studies are showing the importance of these antioxidants for maintaining cardiovascular health, including healthy blood vessels.

Good sources of flavonoids include all citrus fruits, berries, onions, parsley, legumes, green tea, red wine, seabuckthorn, and dark chocolate. I especially recommend dark berries like blue berries, black berries and boysenberrries.

Fish oil and flaxseed oil
Omega 3 fatty acids have also been proven to work wonders for your heart, arteries and veins that make up your cardiovascular system. They help to lower cholesterol, tryglicerides, LDL and blood pressure, while at the same time increasing good HDL cholesterol.

Minerals, including magnesium
Low mineral levels, particularly magnesium, can result in increased arterial muscle tension and an irregular pulse. Supplementation with magnesium can include a bone broth and a nightly soak in a warm bath of Epsom Salts. A bone broth is also a wonderful natural source of gelatine

Monitor cardiovascular health
If you have high blood pressure, or a heart condition and you are intending to try natural therapies including nutritional supplementation, it is important that you monitor your heart health. Do this daily using a digital blood pressure monitor. Consult your doctor and discuss your plans. Heed any advice given.

These nutrients are good for you when taken according to professional guidance. Even if there is no measurable benefit in cardiovascular health from taking these, you may find a pleasant offshoot: healthy skin, hair and nails!

Health benefits of omega 3 oils

Here is a quick list the most recognised health benefits of omega 3 oil that is sourced from fish oil and the healthy vegetable oils, such as olive and flax seed oil.

• A healthy heart
• Support for concentration, memory and learning
• Blood sugar health
• Healthy joints, with an increase in joint comfort
• Fighting the signs of aging
• Healthy brain and nervous system function and development
• Protection for cell membranes
• Cholesterol and other blood lipid health
• Healthy liver function
• Relief of normal PMS symptoms
• Bolstering the immune system
• Healthy mood support
• Optimal skin, hair and nails health (eczema, psoriasis, dry skin)
• Improved quality of life

During winter you are advised to take cod liver oil because it is rich in vitamin D and A, both of which are essential for immune health. Thompson's now put out a vitamin D supplement which has fish oil in it. Flax oil is a good alternative to the fish oil sources and you could add garlic oil, either Wagner Aged Kyolic Garlic or Red Seal Garlic Oil. Then there is Evening Primrose Oil from Thompsons (all available from www.myotec.co.nz).

Most omega 3 oils are highly unstable, especially fish oil, which is why quality fish oils usually come with vitamin E. Vitamin E is a powerful anti-oxidant which is not only good for you but also good for the oil because it prevents the oil from oxidising, including while it is circulating through your body doing its good works. When taking omega 3 oil, it is therefore advised that you take in some extra vitamin E. But beware of the synthetic kinds - seek out natural sources, such as Kordel's Natural Vitamin E. There are doubts about the health benefits of synthetic vitamin E.

People ask which is best? My response is to suggest taking a mix of all the various sources of omega oils - so fish oil now and then switch to flax oil and then add some cod liver oil and garlic oil over winter and so on and so on. Variety is the spice of life! And so it is with diet. Of course, your diet should be very healthy with fresh fish, garlic, onions, spinach and brocolli on the menu. A hearty beef bone broth is a rich source of minerals.

The role of vitamin E on the anti-atherosclerotic effect of fish oil in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rabbits

The role of vitamin E on the anti-atherosclerotic effect of fish oil in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rabbits was studied in male New Zealand white rabbits.
..... These results suggest that vitamin E and/or fish oil attenuate atherosclerosis in high cholesterol-fed rabbits; vitamin E and fish oil potentiated the effect of each other. Furthermore, without sufficient vitamin E supplementation, rabbits treated with high cholesterol plus fish oil will show an elevation of plasma creatine kinase activity." _______________________________________________

Gary Moller comments:
Just how much research on male NZ rabbits applies to you is open to debate. My partner keeps telling me I'm like a rabbit, so I am taking it seriously!"

This New Zealand research adds to the growing body of evidence that diet and supplementation strategies have important effects on health risk, including cardiovascular disease.

As a matter of interest, Creatine Kinase (CK) is an enzyme that operates within cellular energy pathways. Elevated levels of CK in the blood may be an indication of muscle damage, such as may be caused during intense exercise, over-heating or heart attack (muscle is rich in CK so damage to muscles releases CK into the blood). Marathon runners have been known to be hospitalised in the days following a marathon because of extemely elevated CK levels, triggering fears that the runner is undergoing a heart attack! Of course this is not the case, but this is still very unsettling. But this is still confirmation of the damage a hard run does to the body and the need for additional anti-oxidant supplementation.

This study indicates that vitamin E and fish oil may be beneficial if you are undertaking intense exercise, bruising muscles, exercising in the heat, or if you have high cholesterol levels. Vitamin E is a powerful anti oxidant that helps the body neutralise the flood of free radicals that are produced from tissue breakdown before they can do damage to healthy, previously unaffected tissues. Fish oil has many health qualities, including anti-inflammatory qualities and stabilisation of heart electrical activity.

Rancid cholesterol and other fats in the blood stream act as free radicals. Vitamin E again reduces damage to the arterial walls due to its powerful anti-oxidant qualities.

Vitamin E with fish oil are at their most powerful in terms of protection when combined. The vitamin E also serves to prevent the fish oil from oxidising while it is circulating in the body. Fish oil can be purchased with added vitamin E, or if the cheaper fish oil only product is purchased, it is recommended that natural vitamin E be added to the diet. The same can be said for additional vitamin C. Read this article here.

Purchase quality natural vitamin E only. I have serious reservations about the efficacy of cheaper synthetic forms of vitamin E.

Quality fish oil and natural vitamin E are available from www.myotec.co.nz

Why should you take Vitamin E when you take fish oil?

Essential fatty acids, such as fish oil, and flax seed oil tend to oxidise rather quickly. And when they oxidise, they form free radicals and lipid peroxides, both of which are toxic to nearly all of our cells.

Vitamin E is one of the most powerful antioxidants (with many health benefits), so taking it along with any sort of essential fatty acid -- including fish oil -- helps prevent this oxidation, which allows you to get the most nutritional benefit from the oil. This is especially the case with fish oil which is most unstable.

When purchasing fish oil capsules, look for the ones with added natural vitamin E. (Stay away from synthetic vitamins which are of questionable benefit). While they may be a little more expensive than the budget fish oils, the added Vit E more than makes up for it.

When taking other oils such as flax seed oil, consider taking a capusule of natural vitamin E with it.

By the way; natural vitamin E helps stabilise all fats in circulation, including cholesterol, thus reducing the possibility of harm to arterial walls by rancid cholesterol.