Tocotrienols are significantly anti-inflammatory, which is one of their most important properties. There are also several positive effects related to it - Heart, eyes, Brain, skin, liver, kidney, cancer...
How come?
Inflammation (redness, warmth, pain, swelling and impaired function) is triggered by a "master switch", a transcription factor.
This is called NFkB(en-ef-kappa-Be) and causes a cascade of further inflammatory reactions (e.g. prostaglandins such as PGE2). As the inflammatory process continues, immune cells rush in and further fuel the inflammation H2O2(hydrogen peroxide) and other messenger substances (such as IL-1, IL-8). NFkB is triggered by H2O2 (free radicals, ROS) (it is redox sensitive).
This creates a self-enhancing process that only returns when the messenger substances (such as H2O2) are broken down - for example by antioxidants that neutralize the H2O2. It can happen that this a local inflammation persists permanently. Hypothesis: this is especially true when there are not enough (fat-soluble) antioxidants.
The circle of self-reinforcement and inflammation goes over
- NFkB activation
- Release of cytokines IL-1,TNFalpha
- Activation of COX, resulting in the formation of inflammatory prostaglandins
- The immune response occurs
- The immune response produces substances that activate NFkB -> to 1.
T3 (tocotrienol) neutralizes substances that enhance the immune response (H2O2, IL1) and thereby reduces the inflammation.
Side effect: Apoptosis (top right, necessary for cancer defense and specific immune defense) becomes possible again.
Of course, the entire immune response is much more complicated and many other messenger substances are involved. The grand principle, the development and maintenance of inflammation, should be presented correctly here.
The properties of inflammation also include the limited function of body cells and organs. The cells go into emergency mode in which, for example, energy production is switched from oxygen consumption to lactic acid fermentation, which is 16 times worse. Inflamed body cells function significantly worse. This is apparently widespread and easily recognizable in skin, liver, bone and brain.
tocotrienol vitamin E is NOT a medication. However, it is apparently significantly involved in ensuring the normal process of ending the inflammation.
For comparison, here are the most important intervention options against inflammation:
- Cortisone destroys NFkB (but not the H2O2). That's why the inflammation occurs when the NFkB is newly formed. This increases when the trigger factors (H2O2) are still present.
- Painkillers (e.g. aspirin) act at the lowest level by inhibiting the formation of prostaglandins (COX inhibitors).
- Tocotrienols, however, do. They slow down the NFkBandneutralize the trigger factor H2O2 (as well as others, IL-1, iNOS, TNF). Namely where the NFkB becomes active: at the cell nucleus, in lipophilic structures. That's why you also need a fat-soluble antioxidant. And in mammalian bodies it is mainly vitamin E - where tocotrienol-vitamin E is 40 times stronger as an antioxidant thanks to its unsaturated side chain.
The next chapter continues with diseases that are caused by inflammation.
In the chapter after next, a number of studies document the anti-inflammatory effect of tocotrienols.