An elevated triglyceride level is one of the risk factors for the identification of metabolic syndrome, which is linked to an increase risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke. This study demonstrates -- for the first time -- that gamma and delta tocotrienols work to lower triglyceride levels, by directly suppressing genes that enable triglyceride production (SREBP1/2, DGAT2 and APOB100), suggesting that tocotrienols are able to directly regulate triglyceride synthesis in the body. At the same time, this down-regulation also translates into a reduction in the level of triglyceride transport lipoproteins (VLDL and chylomicron), which distribute fats around the body. The study supports its in vitro research findings, by demonstrating the triglyceride-lowering effect of tocotrienols in both mice models and human clinical studies.

Moreover, the study also showed that tocotrienols may inhibit the development of atherosclerosis, a medical condition in which fatty plaque, resulting from oxidation of LDL-cholesterol (also known as "bad" cholesterol), builds up inside the arteries. It was found that gamma tocotrienol can enhance the removal of LDL-cholesterol from the blood, by inducing the expression of LDL receptors. This is a key step in achieving healthy blood lipid levels.

"Our studies show that tocotrienols have the potential for the prevention or treatment of metabolic syndrome. This research contributes further evidence that natural tocotrienols is a far more powerful form of vitamin E with unique health-related benefits not shared by alpha-tocopherol, the common form of vitamin E," said Mr Arthur Ling, CEO of Davos Life Science Singapore, a company specialising in the research & development and production of tocotrienols.

SOURCE Davos Life Science Pte Ltd