Skin Nutrition/ Hair Health

skin-nutrition-and-hair-health-benefits

Skin Health

Skin is the outermost barrier of the body and it is constantly exposed to oxidative stress due to environmental factors such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation and environmental pollution. Tocotrienols possess 40 to 60 times higher antioxidative activity compared to tocopherols, thus tocotrienols are considered the most important lipid-soluble chain breaking antioxidants in cell membranes [1].

A study evaluates the tissue-specific distribution of lipophilic antioxidants. It was found that approximately 15% of tocotrienols, but only 1% of tocopherols were distributed to the skin. This clearly shows that the distribution of tocotrienols may be dependent upon selective mechanisms as the skin’s first line of defense [2].  Additionally, tocotrienol has been shown to distribute uniformly on the skin surface and preferentially accumulate in the stratum corneum of the skin. The polyunsaturated side chain of tocotrienols allows tocotrienols to penetrate more efficiently into cell membranes compared to tocopherols [3]. Due to the unique attributes of tocotrienols, tocotrienols have been gaining tremendous attention for its superior protection of skin such as improved skin characteristics in harsh winter condition, defends skin against UV-induced damages, surgical scar healing, burn wound healing, and  biopsy wound healing.

Clinical Trials support the use of palm tocotrienol complex for skin health:

Improves Skin Characteristics in Harsh Winter Condition

A double blind, placebo controlled study showed that daily supplementation of 40mg palm tocotrienol complex in combination with 2mg astaxanthin for 4 weeks enhances dry skin characteristics significantly during winter. Subjects on tocotrienol and astaxanthin supplementation demonstrated improved skin elasticity, reduced swelling under the eyes and decreased skin wrinkles. Conversely, subjects on placebo did not show any skin improvement but generally worsened during the study period [4].

Defends Skin against UV-Induced Damage

Studies revealed that low exposure to UV light is sufficient to damage many components of the antioxidant network in the skin. Prolonged exposure to UVB causes sunburn and DNA damage. Vitamin E has been studied extensively for its effects in reducing UV-induced damages. Tocotrienols exhibited stronger protection on skin against UVB induced damage in these studies, as compared to alpha-tocopherol [5-8]. This could probably be explained by the fact that dietary tocotrienols were selectively taken up into the skin but not alpha tocopherol [9].

Treatment of Surgical Scar

Scar formation represents the final phase of the body’s wound healing or repairing process following damaged skin cells. During wound healing response, even though the normal skin barrier restores, the new tissues formation is inferior in terms of structural, aesthetic and functional aspects. In addition, the wound is highly susceptible to infection. It is believed that tocotrienol is able to mediate inflammatory response (ie: prerequisite for scarring) which allows faster healing without infection. This National Institute of Health (NIH) funded on-going clinical trial “Efficacy of natural Vitamin E Tocotrienol on the Treatment of Surgical Scars” is conducted at the Ohio State University Medical Center and is registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov website: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00700791 [10].

Burn Wound Healing

This study is conducted to evaluate the efficacy of topical application of tocotrienol enriched cream in decreasing scar formation following burn injury. Rete Ridges anchor the epidermis to the underlying dermis and protect skin from shearing forces. This study used increased Rete Ridges formation as an indicator of better scar outcome. Initial results showed increased Rete Ridges formation in response to topical palm tocotrienol complex treatment.

Biopsy Wound Healing

This is an on-going human clinical study “Efficacy of Tocotrienol –A Natural Vitamin E in Biopsy Wound” from Ohio State University Medical Center and registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov website: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT01579227.Tocotrienol is thought to improve wound healing by inhibiting collagen synthesis, mitigating proliferation of fibroblast and inflammation. Therefore, this study evaluates the efficacy of bio-enhanced palm tocotrienol complex and palm tocotrienol complex in biopsy wound healing via oral administration and topical application [11].

Hair Health

Scalp hair provides cranial cushioning and protecting the sun from direct sun rays. Unfortunately, hair loss or alopecia is a common hair health issue that affects both males and females. In fact, hair loss or balding is associated with low self-esteem and social inadequacy. There are many natural treatments to hair loss and oral supplementation of bio-enhanced palm tocotrienol complex, has been clinically proven to promote hair growth.

Hair Growth Promotion

In a double blind, placebo controlled clinical study, subjects with androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) were randomized to receive either 100mg/day of bio-enhanced palm tocotrienol complex or placebo for 8 months. Hair counts and weight of hair in pre-selected evaluation area were measured before and every month after the initiation of the study.

An average of 41.8% increase in the number of hair was observed among subjects after 8-months supplementation of bio-enhanced palm tocotrienol complex. By contrast, in the placebo group, only 1 subject (12.5%) receiving placebo demonstrated more than 20% increase in hair count, 3 volunteers (37.5%) showed negligible increase and 4 volunteers (50.0%) had a decrease in the number of hairs. There is no significant difference in the number of hairs between baseline and post-supplementation of tocotrienol, indicating minimal placebo effects. However, significant difference is observed in the percentage of change in hair numbers between tocotrienol supplemented group and placebo, and this suggests that tocotrienol encourages hair growth [12].

References:

  1. Serbinova E, Kagan V, Packer L, et al. (1991). Free radical recycling and intramembrane mobility in the antioxidant properties of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocotrienol. Free Radical Biology & medicine, 10, 263-275.
  2. Traber M.G. al (1997). Asia Pacific J. Clin. Nutr., 6 (1), 63-7.
  3. Traber M.G. al (1998) Lipids, 33, 87-91.
  4. Yamashita E.(2002). Cosmetic benefit of dietary supplements including astaxanthin and tocotrienol on human skin. FOOD Style 21 6(6),112-117.
  5. Weber C, al (1997). Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 22, 761-769.
  6. Chen W. al (1997). Nutr.Cancer, 29,205-211.
  7. Gerrick, K.E., Fensler H.L, (1993), Cancer, 19, 125-133.
  8. Kuchide M, al (2003), Cancer Letter, 196, 169-177.
  9. Ikeda S., al (2000), J Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol, 46, 141-143.
  10. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00700791
  11. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT01579227
  12. Lim AB, et al. (2010). Effects of Tocotrienol Supplementation on Hair Growth in Human Volunteers.Tropical Life Sciences Research, 21(2), 91-99.