A recent study conducted at National University of Malaysia reveals that palm tocotrienol complex is more potent than omeprazole (a medication for peptic ulcer disorders) in ameliorating oxidative stress and inflammation-associated gastric damage.

In this animal study, 28 rats were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups of 7 each: 2 control groups were pre-treated with vitamin-free palm oil, and another 2 groups pre-administered with omeprazole and tocotrienols respectively for 28 days. After the treatment period, rats from one control group and two treated groups were subjected to WIRS (Water-Immersion Restraint Stress), an experimental model that mimics clinical acute gastric lesion formation prior to sacrificing for analysis.

Overexpression of iNOS (inducible-NOS) in gastric mucosa has been documented to deteriorate gastro health due to increased production of Interleukin (IL)-1β and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α; and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. This study shows palm tocotrienol complex demonstrates similar efficacies to omeprazole in mitigating gastric injuries by reducing iNOS gene expression, regulating pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and TNF -α, increasing SOD activity, and decreasing incidences of lipid peroxidation.

Interestingly, palm tocotrienol complex demonstrates additional protective mechanisms which are not exhibited by omeprazole. When comparing to stressed control (control group that underwent WIRS), the tocotrienols supplemented group shows significant increased SOD activity, significant decreased iNOS expression and TNF-α compared to omeprazole. Based on this collective findings, the researchers suggested that palm tocotrienol complex exhibits significantly more antioxidative capability and able to manage inflammatory processes more effectively in preserving the integrity of gastro health.

These are exciting outcomes demonstrating that both palm tocotrienols and omeprazole exhibit similar antioxidative ability in attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation-related gastric injuries. However, palm tocotrienol, has shown to be more potent compared to omeprazole in terms of increasing SOD activity and reduction of iNOS and TNF-α. This study may basically opens the path for tocotrienol as the next primary natural alternative for people suffering from peptic ulcers since there is a growing interest in alternative therapies and the use of natural products for gastro health.

“Palm tocotrienols are true full spectrum of tocotrienol complex (α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocotrienol), extracted through distillation processes, from crude palm fruit oil. This distillation process minimizes losses while preserving the naturalness and maximum levels of tocotrienols. In addition, it consists of low levels of other phytonutrients such as squalene, phytosterols, mixed carotene and CoQ10, which are extracted naturally together with tocotrienols, making it a natural and wholesome full spectrum tocotrienol complex. With these encouraging results along with published clinical data and on-going studies, palm tocotrienol complex is your trusted tocotrienol of choice for a new vitamin E formula or a reformulation of your existing products (for its synergistic effects)”.

Source: Palmoilhealth.org

By Robin Miller