Tocotrienol Supplementation Reduces Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women

by | Apr 12, 2022 | 2021, Bone Health, Women's Health

Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. 12-week supplementation of 600 mg tocotrienols improved serum levels of lysophospholipids and tocotrienols, significantly decreasing the rate of bone loss through the improved ability to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. 

bone healthOsteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and a higher rate of bone loss which is becoming an increasing burden on people and health care worldwide 1. Bone is a dynamic organ that continuously undergoes remodeling, with a healthy balance of bone resorption and bone formation 2. Compromised bone strength and deterioration of bone tissue leads to an increased risk of fracture 3. Postmenopausal women are at an increased risk of osteoporosis which is directly related to estrogen deficiency, with other contributing factors such as advanced age, thinness, genetics, poor diet, and diseases that compromise bone health 4.

Vitamin E is a lipid soluble vitamin with high antioxidant levels that acts as a modulator of the immune system and has been studied for its potential ability to reduce bone loss due to osteoporosis 5. Vitamin E is the collective term for four tocopherols and four tocotrienols which possess high levels of anti-inflammatory properties, along with the ability to neutralize free radicals 6. In particular, tocotrienols have been researched for its therapeutic abilities regarding female reproductive health, metabolic syndromes, and bone resorption 7. Animal studies have shown that supplementation of tocotrienols may support bone health by maintaining higher bone mineral density and improving bone microstructure 8.

In this double-blind placebo-controlled randomized study, Shen et al. observed the effect of annatto-extracted tocotrienol (TT) supplementation on postmenopausal women. 89 women (40 years and older) participated in the study and were randomized into three groups:

Placebo (n=20)860 mg olive oil/day
300 mg TT (n=20)300 mg TT/day
600 mg TT (n=20)600 mg TT/day

Of the three groups, no significant differences in age, weight, height, and BMI were noted. Serum samples (using a non-targeted mass spectrometry-based metabolomics profiling analysis) were taken only for placebo and 600 mg TT group at baseline and after 12 weeks. After 12 weeks of supplementation, the significant findings are as follows:

  • Compared to baseline, serum level gamma-tocotrienol levels increased to a detectable level in 18 women in the TT group, versus 4 women in the placebo group.
  • Additionally, levels of alpha-CEHC sulfate, a TT metabolite, showed a decreasing trend in the 600 mg TT group compared to baseline (p = 0.058) and was found to be significantly lower compared to placebo.
  • When comparing metabolites related to bone and collagen formation, decreased serum levels were noted for compounds pro-hydroxy-pro (p = 0.0003) and C-glycosyltryptophan (p = 0.081), suggesting that tocotrienol supplementation encourages bone remodeling through decreased collagen degradation.
  • Regarding oxidative stress, 600 mg TT supplementation after 12 weeks resulted in a statistically significant decrease in urine 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (an oxidative stress biomarker) (p < 0.001) compared to placebo.
  • Compared to baseline, several serum lysophospholipids were increased more significantly in the TT supplementation group compared to placebo. Further analysis showed that 48 biomarkers had increased while 65 biomarkers decreased in the 600 mg TT group at the end of the study, such as increased levels of tocotrienols, with decreased levels of acylcarnitines.

In conclusion, study findings confirm that tocotrienol supplementation resulted in higher levels of phospholipids and tocotrienols, which aids in suppression of inflammation and oxidative stress. The significant changes in the biomarkers, such as decreased metabolites of methionine and cysteine, further support the improvements in oxidation normally experienced in postmenopausal women experiencing osteoporosis. Further research should include a larger subject group and provide a variety of tocotrienol dosages to better observe the effects higher and lower amounts of tocotrienols have on bone loss.

Source: Shen, Chwan-Li, Huanbiao Mo, Dale M. Dunn, and Bruce A. Watkins. “Tocotrienol supplementation led to higher serum levels of lysophospholipids but lower acylcarnitines in postmenopausal women: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial.” Frontiers in Nutrition 8 (2021).

© 2021 Shen, Mo, Dunn and Watkins. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

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Posted April 12, 2022.

Taylor Woosley studied biology at Purdue University before becoming a 2016 graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a major in Writing. She currently resides in Glen Ellyn, IL.

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