Tocotrienol

They exist as four isomers (alpha, beta, gamma, delta), each differing in the number and position of methyl groups on their chromanol ring.

[6] All tocotrienols have some physical antioxidant activity due to an ability to donate a hydrogen atom (a proton plus electron) from the hydroxyl group on the chromanol ring, to free radical and reactive oxygen species.

The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine of the United States National Academy of Sciences does not define a Recommended Dietary Allowance or Adequate Intake for tocotrienols.

[13] The biological significance of tocotrienols was clearly delineated in the early 1980s, when its ability to lower cholesterol was first reported by Asaf Qureshi and Elson in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

Subsequent research identified eight molecules in the vitamin E family, divided into tocopherols and tocotrienols: alpha, beta, delta, and gamma forms.

[21][22][23][24] It has been proposed that the unsaturated side-chain in tocotrienols causes them to penetrate tissues with saturated fatty layers more efficiently than tocopherol.

"[21] As dietary supplements, tocotrienols are primarily administered orally and, due to their lipophilic nature, their absorption is significantly enhanced when taken with a fat-rich diet.

[26] The short half-lives of tocotrienols are attributed to their low binding affinity for α-TTP, which maintains plasma levels of tocopherols.

Consequently, δ-tocotrienol remains in plasma for a longer duration, offering greater bioavailability and slower biotransformation compared to other isomers.