DeltaGOLD Facts
Delta-tocotrienol is a rapidly developing novel component of vitamin E. It is naturally derived from several sources, including palm, rice bran, and annatto, all containing various compositions of tocopherol and tocotrienol. Here we will discuss the benefits and superior function of delta-tocotrienol, including its role in cholesterol reduction and cardiovascular disease, its influence on metabolic syndrome and diabetes, and its potential in cancer and chemoprevention.
What are the components of vitamin E supplements?
Structure of Tocotrienol, Tocopherol, and Isomers. Tocotrienol and tocopherol both have a chromanol nucleus, which is the site of antioxidant activities. Tocotrienol and tocopherol differ in the tail region of the molecule. Tocotrienol has a farnesylated tail that is thought to downregulate 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, whereas tocopherol has a longer phytyl tail without double bonds, disallowing a similar function. The downregulation of HMG-CoA reductase has been shown to decrease total and LDL cholesterol levels, and may be a pathway that involves tocotrienol in the inhibition of several cancers. Alpha, beta, gamma, and delta are among the isomers of tocotrienol as well as tocopherol. For tocotrienol,the potency of cholesterol inhibition, as well as impact on cancer treatment by these isomers is as follows: delta>gamma >alpha>beta. Tocopherols are inactive in lowering cholesterol or cancer.
Desmethyl tocotrienols are more active, especially in the absence of a methyl group at C5 position on the chromanol ring system. Delta-tocotrienol is known to be monomethylated at C8 position of the chromanol ring system, making it the least substituted, and therefore the most potent isomer of the four tocotrienol compounds. The majority of vitamin E supplements contain mostly tocopherols, of which alpha- tocopherol is the most commonly found tocopherol compound. Typically, only traces of tocotrienol are found, which is due to its scarcity in plants from which vitamin E is most commonly derived.
While tocopherols have high antioxidant value, they do not have an effect on the regulation of cancer or cholesterol levels. Large clinical studies on their benefits to treat cardiovascular diseases have been equivocal.
Why are Annatto Tocotrienols superior to tocopherol and other tocotrienol supplements?
DeltaGOLD contains the wholesome rainforest annatto-derived (not palm sourced) tocotrienols that have a high concentration of the most effective component of tocotrienols delta-tocotrienol using a patented solvent-free extraction method. Annatto tocotrienol contains 90% delta-tocotrienol and 10% gamma-tocotrienol, and better yet, it is tocopherol-free.
How does tocotrienol work?
The mechanism of tocotrienol’s hypolipidemic action involves posttranscriptional suppression of HMG-CoA reductase, and appears to specifically modulate the intracellular mechanism for controlled degradation of the reductase protein2. Just recently it has been reported that only gamma- and delta-tocotrienol stimulate the degradation of the HMG-CoA reductase, and block processing of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP). Blocking SREBP processing has implications on the triglyceride synthesis (or reduction) with importance in prediabetic and diabetic conditions.
Other forms of vitamin E (all four tocopherols and alpha- and beta-tocotrienols) do not degrade, downregulate, nor block SREBP processing3. Delta-tocotrienol was also found to have the greatest antioxidant properties among the tocotrienol isomers4, which is due to the decreased methylation on the chromanol ring that allows the molecule to be more easily incorporated into cell membranes5. A comparative in vitro study showed that gamma- and delta-tocotrienol was 4-fold more efficient as scavenger of peroxyl radicals than other tocotrienol isomers6.
The Problem with Alpha-Tocopherol
Tocopherols do not have the cholesterol-lowering ability that tocotrienols do1. In fact, alpha-tocopherol has been shown to attenuate or interfere with the cholesterol-lowering action of tocotrienols7. Preparations effective in cholesterol-lowering consist of 15-20% alpha-tocopherol and 60% gamma- and delta-tocotrienol, whereas less effective or ineffective preparations consist of more than 30% alpha-tocopherol and 45% of gamma- and delta-tocotrienol. This has been supported by clinical studies in which supplements with high alpha-tocopherol content did not contribute to the lowering of cholesterol8,9, whereas supplementation containing low amounts of alpha-tocopherol and high amounts of gamma- and delta-tocotrienol led to a significant decrease in total and LDL cholesterol10, 1.
In addition, tocotrienols absorbed better than tocopherols2, and tocopherols have even been shown to prevent absorption of tocotrienols5.
