Lowering of serum cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic humans by tocotrienols (palmvitee)

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Abstract
A double-blind, crossover, 8-wk study was conducted to compare effects of the tocotrienol-enriched fraction of palm oil (200 mg palmvitee capsules/day) with those of 300 mg corn oil/d on serum lipids of hypercholesterolemic human subjects (serum cholesterol 6.21–8.02 mmol/L). Concentrations of serum total cholesterol (−15%), LDL cholesterol (−8%), Apo B (−10%), thromboxane (−25%), platelet factor 4 (−16%), and glucose (−12%) decreased significantly only in the 15 subjects given palmvitee during the initial 4 wk. The crossover confirmed these actions of palmvitee. There was a carry over effect of palmvitee. Serum cholesterol concentrations of seven hypercholesterolemic subjects (> 7.84 mmol/L) decreased 31% during a 4-wk period in which they were given 200 mg γ-tocotrienol/d. This indicates that γ-tocotrienol may be the most potent cholesterol inhibitor in palmvitee capsules. The results of this pilot study are very encouraging.