Vitamin E is an essential nutrient widely associated with skin health. Because of its nature as an antioxidant that helps reduce UV damage to the skin, it has become a common fixture of women’s skin care routines. Today, vitamin E can be found in various products, including oral soft gel supplements, skin oils, creams and serums.

But vitamin E is not just for the skin. A recent study suggests that it also promotes strong bones, especially in older women who are more prone to osteoporosis than men.

Tocopherols and tocotrienols

The vitamin E family consists mainly of two groups of chemicals: tocopherols, which are more common, and the lesser-known tocotrienols. The typical American diet is said to contain more of the former than the latter. In fact, most vitamin E supplements contain either only tocopherols exclusively or lesser amounts of tocotrienols. Nuts, seeds and their oils are the most abundant sources of tocopherols, while cereal grains like rice bran, oats and barley are the primary food sources of tocotrienols.

Tocopherols and tocotrienols exist in nature in their alpha, beta, gamma and delta forms. While research has found that only alpha-tocopherol can correct vitamin E deficiency, both types of vitamin E are equally potent antioxidants that can reduce inflammation, prevent the signs of aging and even help fight cancer.

Why women should eat more tocotrienol-rich foods after menopause

Based on previous reports about their bone benefits, researchers from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Georgia State University decided to further investigate the effects of tocotrienols on bone density. They recruited 89 postmenopausal women with osteopenia, a condition marked by weaker-than-normal bones, for their study. The researchers used tocotrienols derived from annatto seeds. Also known as poor man’s saffron, annatto seeds come from the achiote tree and are commonly used as a condiment and food coloring.

After 12 weeks, the researchers found that women who took annatto-derived tocotrienols daily had decreased amounts of bone resorption markers in their blood. High bone resorption activity is a common sign of osteopenia and is what causes weak bones.

Vitamin E in the form of delta-tocotrienols also improved bone turnover rate in the participants by suppressing bone remodeling regulators. The researchers observed this benefit after only six weeks of tocotrienols supplementation.

“Such osteoprotective TT’s [tocotrienols] effects may be, in part, mediated by an inhibition of oxidative stress,” they concluded in their study.

Other benefits of tocotrienols

Antioxidants are powerful neutralizers of free radicals, which can damage cells by causing oxidative stress. Tocotrienols are target-specific antioxidants that can fight causes of inflammation. Here are some of the notable health benefits studies have linked to tocotrienols over the years:

• They protect the brain — Due to their ability to suppress inflammatory factors, tocotrienols can protect the brain from injury and associated brain diseases.
• They improve heart health — Just like what they do for the brain, tocotrienols can also protect the heart from free radical damage and heart disease.
• They reduce the risk of cancer — Free radical damage to cell components, including DNA, plays a role in cancer development. By fighting free radicals, tocotrienols help reduce the risk of cancer.
• They improve gastrointestinal health — According to studies, tocotrienols can reduce acidity, stop hormonal-related changes and fight the negative effects of stress on the digestive system.
• They help maintain skin health — As potent antioxidants, tocotrienols can protect the skin from free radical damage — the main culprit behind premature aging. This activity is believed to help keep the skin’s youthful appearance. Hence, vitamin E is a popular ingredient in many skin care products.

Vitamin E is a powerful anti-aging nutrient that can help keep your bones, heart, brain and skin healthy no matter what your age. To enjoy the many health benefits of this antioxidant, eat foods rich in both tocopherols and tocotrienols or take supplements that contain both.

Sources:

Healthline.com

Nutraingredients.com

MedicalNewsToday.com

ODS.OD.NIH.gov

TheSpruceEats.com

Link.Springer.com

Cancer.gov