Nerdy Science Blog

There are eight different forms of vitamin E.  One of them, tocotrienol (TCT) form of vitamin E, has the ability to prevent brain damage after a stroke.

The study was published in Journal of Neurochemistry.  Chandon Sen, professor and vice chair for research in Ohio State’s Department of Surgery, said that TCT vitamin E capability in preventing neurodegeneration after stroke was discovered by his lab 10 years ago.  TCT vitamin E is able to block enzyme cPLA2 from releasing fatty acids (arachidonic acid) into the brain and eventually kill the neurons.

Studies were conducted on mouse brain cells.  Sen explained that cPLA2 existed naturally in the body and presented all the time.  It is not harmful to stop the excessive function of the enzyme, and little amount of tocotrienol is needed to control the enzyme (just 250 nanomolar).  Tocotrienol is a common component in typical Southeast Asian diet.

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