Tocotrienols
Research reviewed: Up until 03/2026
Tocotrienols (Tocotrienols (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta-tocotrienol; Vitamin E isomers)) is a dietary supplement with 10 published peer-reviewed studies involving 324 participants, researched for Cholesterol & Lipid Profile, Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Protection, Aging & Oxidative Stress.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Cholesterol & Lipid Profile
ModerateBlood Pressure & Cardiovascular Protection
StrongAging & Oxidative Stress
ModerateResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Cholesterol & Lipid Profile
To assess the overall effect of tocotrienol supplementation on the lipid profile.
Study Type
Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Purpose
To assess the overall effect of tocotrienol supplementation on the lipid profile.
Dose
Various (100–750 mg/day tocotrienols)
Participants
Multiple RCTs included
Duration
4–24 weeks
Results
Tocotrienol supplementation significantly increased HDL-C (WMD +0.146 mmol/L). LDL-C reductions observed particularly with delta-tocotrienol and at higher doses. TC reduced in subgroups. Effects were dose-dependent.
How They Measured It
Pooled TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG from eligible RCTs
To review the cholesterol-lowering mechanisms of tocotrienols and distinguish them from tocopherols.
Study Type
Review of pharmacological mechanisms
Purpose
To review the cholesterol-lowering mechanisms of tocotrienols and distinguish them from tocopherols.
Dose
Delta-tocotrienol 125–750 mg/day in clinical studies
Participants
Multiple clinical and mechanistic studies reviewed
Duration
Various
Results
Tocotrienols (particularly delta- and gamma-forms) inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, suppress LDL oxidation, and reduce LDL-C. Combined with diet, delta-tocotrienol reduced TC, LDL-C, and TG in dose-dependent fashion. Natural statin-like activity.
How They Measured It
Review of HMG-CoA reductase inhibition, LDL-receptor expression, and clinical trial data
To evaluate tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) on lipid profile in patients with chronic kidney disease on haemodialysis.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To evaluate tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) on lipid profile in patients with chronic kidney disease on haemodialysis.
Dose
200 mg/day TRF (palm-derived tocotrienol mix)
Participants
32 haemodialysis patients with dyslipidaemia
Duration
8 weeks
Results
TRF significantly reduced LDL-C (p=0.04) and total cholesterol (p=0.01) in haemodialysis patients. HDL-C improved non-significantly. Safe lipid-lowering option in this high-risk population.
How They Measured It
LDL-C, TC, HDL-C, TG at baseline and after 8 weeks
To evaluate the effects of tocotrienol supplementation on markers of inflammation and oxidative stress.
Study Type
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose
To evaluate the effects of tocotrienol supplementation on markers of inflammation and oxidative stress.
Dose
Various tocotrienol preparations
Participants
Multiple RCTs
Duration
4–24 weeks
Results
Tocotrienol supplementation significantly reduced CRP and oxidative stress markers (MDA). IL-6 reduced in some subgroups. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects support a cardiovascular protective role beyond direct lipid lowering.
How They Measured It
CRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha, MDA, antioxidant enzyme activity from RCTs
Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Protection
To assess whether tocotrienol-enriched oat supplementation improves metabolic and cardiovascular markers.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To assess whether tocotrienol-enriched oat supplementation improves metabolic and cardiovascular markers.
Dose
Tocotrienol-enriched oats providing ~100 mg tocotrienols + oat beta-glucan
Participants
128 adults with metabolic syndrome components
Duration
12 weeks
Results
Tocotrienol-enriched oats significantly reduced SBP, TC, and LDL-C. Quality of life improved. The combination of tocotrienols and oat beta-glucan appeared synergistic for blood pressure and lipid outcomes.
How They Measured It
Blood pressure, lipid panel, metabolic profile, quality of life
To compare the vascular and lipid effects of palm tocotrienol rich fraction vs placebo in healthy adults.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To compare the vascular and lipid effects of palm tocotrienol rich fraction vs placebo in healthy adults.
Dose
200 mg/day palm TRF
Participants
78 healthy adults
Duration
12 weeks
Results
Palm TRF showed a trend toward improved FMD and reduced arterial stiffness. Blood pressure was modestly reduced. Antioxidant capacity increased significantly. Vascular effects suggest tocotrienols may be cardioprotective via endothelial mechanisms.
How They Measured It
FMD, arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity), blood pressure, lipid panel
To evaluate the cardiometabolic effects of tocotrienol supplementation in individuals at risk of metabolic syndrome.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To evaluate the cardiometabolic effects of tocotrienol supplementation in individuals at risk of metabolic syndrome.
Dose
400 mg/day gamma-delta tocotrienol
Participants
50 adults with metabolic syndrome risk factors
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Gamma-delta tocotrienol significantly reduced TC (−12%) and LDL-C (−14%). Blood pressure and waist circumference trended downward. Insulin resistance improved modestly. Results support tocotrienols as a complementary metabolic supplement.
How They Measured It
TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG, blood pressure, glucose, insulin, waist circumference
To assess ischaemic cardioprotective properties of tocotrienols in hypercholesterolaemic subjects using genomic markers.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To assess ischaemic cardioprotective properties of tocotrienols in hypercholesterolaemic subjects using genomic markers.
Dose
100 mg/day mixed tocotrienols
Participants
Hypercholesterolaemic patients enrolled in cardiac assessment
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Tocotrienols upregulated cardioprotective gene expression and significantly reduced LDL-C. Ischaemic biomarkers showed protective trends. Tocotrienol-specific modulation of oxidative stress pathways distinct from tocopherols confirmed.
How They Measured It
Cardioprotection-related gene expression, cholesterol panels, ischaemic biomarkers
To evaluate tocotrienols on arterial compliance and plasma antioxidant status in healthy adults.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To evaluate tocotrienols on arterial compliance and plasma antioxidant status in healthy adults.
Dose
Dose escalation: 50, 100, 200 mg/day tocotrienol rich fraction
Participants
36 healthy volunteers
Duration
8 weeks per dose level
Results
Doses ≥100 mg/day significantly improved arterial compliance (reduced PWV) and raised total antioxidant status. Dose-dependent elevation in plasma tocotrienol levels confirmed. LDL-C and TC trended downward at higher doses.
How They Measured It
Pulse wave velocity, total antioxidant status, lipid panel at various doses
Aging & Oxidative Stress
To investigate the effects of a tocotrienol-enriched drink on oxidative damage, genomic stability, and quality of life in older adults.
Study Type
Double-blinded, two-arm, parallel randomized controlled trial
Purpose
To investigate the effects of a tocotrienol-enriched drink on oxidative damage, genomic stability, and quality of life in older adults.
Dose
Tocotrienol-enriched drink for 6 months
Participants
67 participants (mean age 60.45 ± 5.75 years)
Duration
6 months
Results
Tocotrienol supplementation significantly improved psychological quality of life (p=0.014), with favorable trends in TNF-α (p=0.04), T-SOD (p=0.04), catalase (p=0.02), and telomerase activity (p=0.02), suggesting antioxidant and genomic stability benefits in aging populations.
How They Measured It
QOL-Psychological scores, TNF-α, T-SOD, catalase, telomerase activity
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Tocotrienols research
There are currently 10 peer-reviewed studies on Tocotrienols (Tocotrienols (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta-tocotrienol; Vitamin E isomers)), involving 324 total participants. Research covers LDL cholesterol reduction, HDL cholesterol improvement, Blood pressure management and 1 more areas. The overall evidence strength is rated as Strong.
The evidence is currently rated as "Strong Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (7 human studies), and reported outcomes.
Tocotrienols has been researched for: LDL cholesterol reduction, HDL cholesterol improvement, Blood pressure management, Antioxidant cardiovascular protection. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Yes, 7 out of 10 studies are human trials. Human trials carry more weight in our evidence scoring system.
