A recently-published animal study identified that tocotrienols, a specific family of vitamin E compounds, may play a role in inhibiting weight gain. The study also supported that this form of vitamin E is highly bioavailable to the brain, as it surpassed the blood brain barrier and inhibited the activity of reactive oxygen species in the brains of mice fed a high-fat diet.
 
According to the authors, writing in the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition, current research widely suggests ties between obesity and cognitive deficiencies including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) among other memory difficulties.
 
In the present study, conducted collaboratively by researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Kyorin University, and Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, mice were separated into groups where they were either administered a control diet or a high-fat (HFD) with or without tocotrienols.
 
After the eight-week intervention period, it was found that tocotrienols significantly inhibited body weight gain in the HFD-treated mice. Further, tocotrienols also prevented the synthesis and accumulation of lipid droplets in liver tissue, both in the presence of HFD and the control diet.
 
Tocotrienols were elevated in various tissues including the liver, as well as the cortex and hippocampus areas of the brain. Tocotrienols were discovered in perfused brain samples which indicates that supplementation significantly increased brain alpha-tocotrienol levels considerably. This confirmed that tocotrienols reached the brain without blood brain barrier dysfunction, upon which they inhibited reactive oxygen species production in the brain, which is tied to improved cognitive function.
 
“Obesity appears to affect amyloid (Aβ) aggregation and tau phosphorylation, speeding up the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease. This new finding suggests that T3s [tocotrienols] could be an effective approach in preventing obesity and cognitive dysfunction,” Dr. Ariati Aris, scientific affairs specialist at PhytoGaia, said. PhytoGaia is a supplier of a full spectrum tocotrienol and tocopherol complex called TocoGaia.
 
“Obesity is becoming a widespread health problem with an alarming prevalence rate. The world’s population is aging and age-related metabolic and neurological illnesses are becoming more common. I am encouraged by this new study as supplementation of tocotrienols may potentially help us to stay fit for both body and mind,” Bryan See, vice president of PhytoGaia, said.