Mixed tocotrienols support brain health, study shows

Summary

This randomized, placebo-controlled study was designed to evaluate the ability of mixed tocotrienols to combat the progression of white matter lesions (WMLs) in people at risk for cardiovascular disease. WMLs are regarded as manifestations of cerebral small vessel disease, reflecting varying degrees of neurodegeneration and tissue damage.

For this study, researchers enrolled a total of 121 volunteers, aged 35 and older, with cardiovascular risk factors and MRI-confirmed WMLs. The participants were randomly assigned to take either mixed tocotrienols* (200 mg) or a placebo, twice daily, for 2 years. WML volumes were measured from MRI images taken at baseline, 1 year, and 2 years using a validated software and were compared. Fasting blood samples were collected for full blood chemistry investigation. A total of 88 volunteers (73%) completed the study with similar dropout rates in treatment and placebo arms.

According to per-protocol (88 volunteers) and intention-to-treat (121 volunteers) analyses, the mean WML volume of the placebo group increased after 2 years, whereas that of the tocotrienol-supplemented group remained essentially unchanged. The mean WML volume change between the two groups was not significantly different (P=.15) at the end of 1 year, but was significantly different at the end of 2 years for both per-protocol and intention-to-treat analyses (P=.019 and P=.018). No significant difference was observed in the blood chemistry parameters between the two groups.

No adverse event related to the mixed tocotrienol consumption was reported except for 5 complaints of mild diarrhea or loose stools during the first week of supplementation, which fully resolved without drug intervention or withdraw from the study.

These findings indicate that long-term supplementation with mixed tocotrienols (200 mg, twice daily) attenuates the progression of WMLs in people at risk for cardiovascular disease.