Comparisons Between Palm Tocotrienols and Rice Tocotrienols

Delta Tocotrienol

Palm based tocotrienols contains the highest level of delta-tocotrienol. In comparison rice bran tocotrienols contains negligible amount or no delta-tocotrienol at all.  Published research studies which showed delta-tocotrienol was the most potent of the tocotrienol isomers:

1. Researchers at the University of Louisiana found that delta-tocotrienol is the most potent tocotrienol to activate antiproliferative and/or apoptic signal pathway in mammary epithelial cells. cellular accumulation of individual tocotrienol isoforms was not equal and characterized as delta-tocotrienol > gamma-tocotrienol > alpha-tocotrienol.
2. University of Hawaii (in a yet to be published research paper/will be presented at the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, July 2000), found that delta-tocotrienol was the most effective vitamin E for reducing the endothelial expression of adhesion molecules, hence as a means to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
3. University of Texas (Nutrition and Cancer, 1999 33(1)), found that delta-tocotrienol was the most potent in inducing apoptosis (cell deaths) of estrogen-responsive MCF7 and estrogen-nonresponsive MDA-MB-435 human breast cancer cells. In fact the potency of delta-tocotrienol was twice that of gamma-tocotrienol. 
4. University of Reading, UK (Lipids, 1998 (33)) found that delta-tocotrienol was the most potent tocotrienols in inhibiting estrogen negative MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.
5. Dr.Charles Elson (Patent - WO 98/38993), found the anti-carcinogenic activity of tocotrienols increase in the order alpha-tocopherol < alpha-tocotrienol < gamma-tocotrienol , delta-tocotrienol. 
6. Delta-tocotrienol with the least steric hindrance (contributed from the methyl groups attached to the chromanol ring) has the highest antioxidant activity in scavenging free radicals.

Gamma Tocotrienol Content

The level of gamma tocotrienol is as high as in rice based tocotrienols. As a comparison basis, we will look at Palm Tocotrienol 30% with the typical ratio as follows:
 

The typical ratio of the different tocotrienol in rice tocotrienol is as follows:
 

As can be seen, the ratio of different tocotrienols in Palm Tocotrienol 30% is the same as what is found in crude palm oil. There is no change in content or ratio at all. The ratio of gamma tocotrienol is about the same in rice. 
 

High AlphaTocopherol Reduces the Activity of Gamma-Tocotrienol

Dr.Qureshi has shown any preparation of tocotrienol that has high ratio (content) of  tocopherol (above 30% ratio), the tocopherol will reduce the activity of tocotrienol in inhibiting the HMG CoA Reductase. As such, for optimum cholesterol lowering activity, we would want to have as low as possible a tocopherol ratio (below 30%). Rice has a ratio of tocopherol at above 41%, which is way above the 30% limit. In comparison, palm has only a ratio of 20-21% tocopherol. As such, palm tocotrienol is the most suitable source of tocotrienols  to lower cholesterol in hyperlipidemic patients.
 

Other Phytonutrients – Plant Squalene, Phytosterols (Beta-sitosterols),  Co-Enzyme Q10 and Mixed Carotenoids

Palm tocotrienol complex is a natural phytonutrient complex that is extracted through a mild process from crude palm oil. Due to this mild process, other phytonutrients such as carotenoids, plant squalene, phytosterols and Co-Enzyme Q10 that exist naturally in palm oil,  are extracted together with the tocotrienols. As such, Palm Tocotrienol Complex is as natural and reflects the natural composition of palm oil. There is neither fortification nor changes in term of the composition and ratio of these phytonutrients in Palm Tocotrienol Complex.

Rice tocotrienol does not contain phtyosterols, carotenoids, plant squalene and co-enzyme Q10.

Phytosterols (predominantly of the beta-sitosterol) has been shown to lower cholesterol. In addition, plant squalene (as found in olive oil and palm oil) has also been shown to inhibit the activity of HMG CoA Reductase, the key regulatory enzyme in the pathway of cholesterol synthesis (HT Khor et al. Nutr Res 1997;17: 475-483). Due to this unique combination of phytosterols, plant squalene and tocotrienols in Palm Tocotrienol Complex, these phytonutrients may very well work synergistically to confer a greater inhibitory effect on the activity of HMG CoA Reductase. 

Breakdown of Phytonutrients in Palm Tocotrienol Complex 50% oil suspension:
 

Published Research Journals / Papers

Almost 98% if not all of the science and published research papers on the benefits of tocotrienols (cholesterol lowering, reversing of arteriosclerosis, inhibition of liver and breast cancer cells,  etc) was carried out with palm based tocotrienols. It is not right to assume that whatever palm tocotrienols can do, rice tocotrienols would have the same effect because of the significant differences between these two sources (as explained above).