WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VITAMIN E AND TOCOTRIENOLS?

Researchers have suggested that the human body comprises around 75 trillion cells. Every cell is surrounded by a phospholipid membrane which is aligned in a bean-shaped manner. This membrane is made up of densely positioned fatty acid molecules. This arrangement can easily be destroyed by negatively charged unstable free radicals, causing lipid peroxidation (fatty acid damage). There are many types of antioxidants that help to protect these cell coverings from such attacks. These are lutein, astaxanthin, lycopene, vitamin C, CoQ10, and vitamin E. 

There are two major forms of vitamin E molecules, i.e. tocotrienols and tocopherols. The matter of fact is that all forms of vitamin E are not equally effective. This is because tocopherols molecules have a longer tail (phytyl chains), on the other hand, tocotrienols have shorter and more flexible tails (farnesyl chain). Furthermore, the former vitamin E molecule has a lower molecular weight than the latter. This difference in their molecular makeup enables the tocotrienol to cover a larger target area that too in a quicker manner than that of the tocopherols. Therefore, this excellency in the action of tocotrienol makes it superior to tocopherol. Researchers say that the tocotrienol form of vitamin E is 50X stronger than that of other vitamin E forms.

TOCOTRIENOL CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE NOT SHOWN BY TOCOPHEROL

• Because of differences in molecular structures, tocotrienol can show higher velocity and ability to reach closest to the cell wall, thereby preventing a free radical attack on cells in a way better manner than tocopherol. Moreover, because of higher speed and lower molecular weight, tocotrienol molecules can target more tissue area than tocopherol molecules.
• Tocotrienol molecules can penetrate more efficiently into the tissues having saturated fatty acid layers like brain and liver than Tocopherol. This is because of the presence of an unsaturated side chain.
• According to a study, Tocotrienols in nanomolar concentrations have a unique capability of preventing nerve cell damage by altering a specific mediator activity responsible for cell death. Therefore, this feature makes it a neuroprotective agent.
• It is said that tocotrienols may help in preventing the occurrence of life-threatening strokes. 
• By suppressing the activity of a particular liver enzyme (HMG-CoA Reductase) which helps in the synthesis of cholesterol, tocotrienol promotes cardiovascular health. Unlike tocopherol, tocotrienol has the efficiency to lower blood cholesterol levels even in small doses and can help to support healthy cholesterol levels. Because of this ability, it also helps in cleansing and depleting accumulated cholesterol plaques from our arteries. Although tocopherol can also help in preventing plaque formation in our blood vessels, it barely removes the plaque from them. This difference in cholesterol-lowering ability is due to the dissimilar molecular structure of both compounds.
• According to some studies, tocotrienols show higher suppressive action towards breast cancer growth than tocopherols.
• To date, no deficiencies for tocotrienol have been established. However, some studies suggest that it may help greatly in alleviating tocopherol deficiencies in our body. Such deficiencies may cause diseases of the central nervous system and neuromuscular malfunctioning. This is characterised by lack of coordination in involuntary movements, weaknesses of muscles, body balance impairment, and sensory nerve injury. Also, it may lead to premature aging, unmanageable acne, poor fertility, and repeated miscarriages.

Difference Between Tocotrienol & Tocopherol