What is Tocotrienol T3?

Few people realize that the vitamin E family comprises eight isomers, half of which are called tocopherols, the most common form found in most vitamin E supplements. The other half is known as tocotrienol (T3), lesser-known but more comprehensive and important in its effects.

What is tocotrienol T3?

In 1922, Herbert Evans discovered that a factor besides certain vitamins B and C in rats' diet caused infertility, which could be reversed by wheat germ supplementation. Scientists later isolated this substance, naming it tocopherol due to its phenolic structure. In 1964, its twin sister, tocotrienol (T3), was discovered, distinguished by its unsaturated side chains. T3's unique structure allows it to penetrate tissues effectively, providing superior antioxidant effects.

Recent research reveals T3's promising anti-cancer effects and its ability to reduce risk factors for chronic diseases. These include promoting new artery formation after stroke, lowering homocysteine levels, and providing neuroprotective functions.

Scientists are increasingly studying this overlooked form of vitamin E, focusing on its anti-cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention properties.

Tocotrienol T3 and Cancer Treatment

Research on vitamin E's effects on cancer has long been inconsistent, attributed to studies primarily using α-tocopherol, which has lower anti-cancer activity compared to tocotrienol T3.

A 2013 study demonstrated that administering T3 to mice with pancreatic cancer drastically increased their survival rates. Mice on a placebo had a mere 10% survival rate, while those on gemcitabine had 30%. However, those taking T3 alone reached a 70% survival rate, and those on combined gemcitabine and T3 therapy achieved a remarkable 90% survival rate. In January 2019, Danish scientists found that T3, when used with Avastin, significantly reduced ovarian cancer recurrence in women.

In cancer treatment, T3 is a multifaceted nutrient impacting various stages of cancer development. While both T3 and tocopherol possess antioxidant properties, T3 exhibits numerous anticancer effects beyond antioxidation.

Mechanisms of Action of T3 in Cancer Prevention

T3 has shown to inhibit the rapid growth of tumor blood vessels, suppress the growth and proliferation of cancer cells, and enhance the effectiveness of standard chemotherapy on cancer cells. Surprisingly, T3 also seems to target cancer stem cells, which are highly resistant to standard chemotherapy and prone to cancer recurrence. T3 can also mitigate the effects of carcinogens on animals.

T3 can induce apoptosis, programmed cell death of cancer cells, preventing tumors from establishing themselves in the body. Apoptosis can also shrink existing tumors, which is why T3 is now used in combination with traditional chemotherapy.

Tocotrienol T3 and Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke

T3 provides many important supplementary benefits, such as:

Improving lipid profiles: T3 helps lower plasma cholesterol levels by blocking HMG-CoA reductase, the same enzyme targeted by statin drugs used to lower lipid levels, although the mechanisms of the two are somewhat different.

Tocotrienol T3 can also lower lipoprotein levels, reducing cardiovascular risk, without affecting serum lipids.

Lowering homocysteine levels: In mouse studies, T3 was found to be more effective in reducing plasma homocysteine and cardiac oxidative stress than the standard vitamin, folic acid.

In a study involving rabbits fed a high-fat diet, supplementation with T3 significantly reduced a series of markers of inflammation and myocardial damage.

Preventing brain damage associated with stroke: Acute ischemic stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability globally. Oral T3 has been shown to prevent and reduce brain damage associated with stroke in animal models by:

• Slowing down the conversion of arachidonic acid (the most abundant brain fatty acid) into pro-inflammatory molecules, thereby reducing inflammation after acute stroke.
• Reducing the action of certain molecules inducing oxidative damage in brain tissues.
• Increasing small artery responses to quickly restore blood flow to the stroke-damaged area.

Improving metabolic syndrome

Some preclinical studies suggest that tocotrienol T3 has exciting anti-cancer effects and can reduce risk factors for some deadly chronic diseases, such as promoting new artery formation after stroke, lowering homocysteine levels, improving insulin sensitivity to reverse many changes in metabolic syndrome, including improving lipid profiles, reducing atherosclerotic lesions, lowering blood sugar and glycation indices, normalizing blood pressure, improving myocardial function, improving glucose and insulin tolerance, and reducing inflammatory cell infiltration into the myocardium.