Superstar partners for wellness

In the Southeast Asian nutraceuticals space, consumer’s interest in holistic health has intensified. Partly fuelled by the Covid-19 pandemic, consumers have started to appreciate the importance of maintaining overall good health to be better able to fend off infections from new viruses.

Consumers are more concerned with preventing health issues, so they are turning to nutraceuticals to help them bridge this gap. This is reflected in research by Mintel¹, which shows that the next two years will see growing interest in healthy ageing, weight loss and management, and in the brain and nervous system protection.

Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) and Vitamin E Tocotrienols are nutraceutical ingredients on the market with unique properties that help make them the perfect ingredient to help consumers meet their needs. Let’s take a dive into each ingredient.

MEDIUM CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDES: A UNIQUE NUTRACEUTICAL OIL

MCTs are a type of oil, containing intermediate-length (comprising six to 12 carbon atoms) fatty acid chains attached to a glycerol backbone (Figure 1)^2,3. These medium fatty acid chains are classified based on the number of carbon atoms that they have; caproic acid (C6), caprylic acid (C8), capric acid (C10), and lauric acid (C12).

The shorter chain length of the fatty acids in MCTs gives it unique properties³.

The shorter carbon lengths make it more easily digested by the body³. MCTs are broken down by the body’s lipase, releasing the medium chain fatty acids from the glycerol backbone³. These medium chain fatty acids are directly transported to the liver, where they form ketone bodies³. These ketone bodies can serve as an immediate energy source to the body.

TOCOTRIENOLS: SUPER VITAMIN E

Tocotrienols are members of the Vitamin E family, and are naturally sourced from oil palm, rice bran, and annatto seeds⁴. Tocotrienols have four analogues, which are scientifically termed as alpha (α), beta (β), delta (δ), and gamma (γ) respectively (Figure 2)⁴.

As members of the Vitamin E family, Tocotrienols are potent antioxidants and have strong anti-inflammatory properties⁴. What makes Tocotrienols different from the more common form of Vitamin E, alpha-Tocopherol, is the fact that Tocotrienols have unsaturated side chains with three double bonds which alpha-Tocopherol does not.

This key property makes Tocotrienols very efficient at keeping free radicals in check, with an antioxidative potency that is 60x greater compared to alpha-Tocopherol⁵.

Because Tocotrienols are such potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, they offer a natural solution to consumers who are looking to age gracefully and healthily. Many diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative conditions (Alzheimer’s disease is an example), and even general ageing are closely associated with the cumulative effects of prolonged exposure to excessive free radicals (oxidative stress) and low-grade chronic inflammation (a long-term response by the body’s immune system)⁶.

MCTs AND TOCOTRIENOLS: A SYNERGISTIC BLEND FOR LONGEVITY AND VITALITY

The unique properties of MCTs and Tocotrienols mentioned above make them particularly suited to address the growing needs of consumers in healthy ageing, weight management, and brain and nervous system protection. While they can be taken separately, combining them can potentially give synergistic benefits in each of these health areas:

a. Healthy ageing

Sustaining overall health is the cornerstone of healthy ageing. A big part of this is delaying the onset of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. High cholesterol, high sugar and insulin resistance, and high blood pressure are major risk factors that lead to these diseases. Animal studies with MCT have shown that MCT was able to slow down body weight increase and promote the excretion of bile acids⁷. Producing bile acids is how the body utilises approximately 50 per cent of cholesterol intake, so an increase in bile acid secretion means lower cholesterol circulating in the blood overall. MCT oil consumption on a high-fat diet could also lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)^8,9.

Many studies have shown that Tocotrienols can help to reduce high triglycerides and high cholesterol. Tocotrienols suppress the key enzyme involved in cholesterol production¹⁰. Human studies have also shown that Tocotrienols supplementation reduced high triglycerides and high LDL by up to 28 per cent and 25 per cent respectively^11,12. Some preliminary work has also shown that Tocotrienols supplementation may help to lower blood pressure by up to 30 per cent¹³.

b. Weight loss and management

The rise in popularity of the ketogenic (a very low carbohydrate, and high fat) diet for weight loss initially drove interest in MCT. MCTs are easily converted into ketones in the liver³, and MCT oil supplementation may help the body to remain in ketosis.

Beyond ketone production, MCT oil supplementation may benefit weight loss in other ways. Research has shown that MCT oil can increase the release of peptide YY and leptin, two hormones that can promote the feeling of fullness in the body¹⁴. Some studies have shown that taking MCT oil could help reduce body weight and waist circumference¹⁵.

Tocotrienols are a lesser-known ingredient that can aid in weight management. Animal studies have shown that Tocotrienols can reduce body fat by stopping the development and accumulation of fat cells, support the reduction of fat in cells and at the same time reduce proteins involved in making more fatty acids¹⁶.

One of the key complications of obesity is diabetes. Research in diabetic models has shown that Tocotrienols supplementation can improve insulin sensitivity, and help to restore blood glucose and insulin levels^17,18. A clinical trial on 229 diabetic patients showed that Tocotrienols supplementation could improve blood sugar levels¹⁹.

c. Brain and nervous system protection

Dementias, like Alzheimer’s disease, are brought about by progressive cognitive decline as a person ages.

As dementia develops, the brain gradually loses the ability to utilise glucose for energy. MCTs offer the brain an alternative energy source in the form of ketones, which could allow brain cells to survive better²⁰. Studies have also shown that MCTs could protect brain cells from cell death due to toxic reactions, stimulate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) production, and increase autophagy^21,22,23. High BDNF levels could lower the risk for Alzheimer’s disease or dementia by up to 33 per cent²². Research shows that autophagy supports the central nervous system, improves brain function and reduces neurological cellular breakdown²⁴.

Oxidative stress also plays a key role in the loss of brain cells and the progression to dementia^25,26. Animal studies with Tocotrienols supplementation have demonstrated the protection of brain cells from free radical-induced cell death, reduced DNA damage in brain cells, and improved cognitive function^27,28. Clinical studies with Tocotrienols supplementation have reported reduced numbers of white matter lesions and reduced risks of Alzheimer’s disease by up to 64 per cent²⁹.

OIL PALM: THE PERFECT NATURAL SOURCE OF MCTs AND TOCOTRIENOLS

It is clear that consuming MCTs has a lot of benefits and consumer demand for this is high. MCTs can be produced from oil palm and coconut, but coconut is the more popular option among consumers as they perceive it as the more environmentally-friendly option.

Unfortunately, recent reports have highlighted data from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) saying that coconut threatens some 18.3 species per million metric tonnes of oil produced, followed by olive with 4.1 species, oil palm with 3.8 and soybean, 1.3. Despite its positive reputation, coconut has a surprisingly large negative impact on tropical biodiversity³⁰.

It is important to understand that all crops and commodities have environmental consequences, and this includes both oil palm and coconut. The oil palm industry has put in years of effort to build in sustainable practices across its supply chain and it is possible to source for sustainably-produced palm oil products.

Another unique feature of oil palm is the fact that it is also a natural source of Tocotrienols, something coconut is not. Palm oil naturally contains the full spectrum of Tocotrienols isomers (alpha, beta, gamma and delta-isomers) and alpha-Tocopherol. It is truly a powerhouse of nutraceuticals that can meet the demands of consumers.

APPLYING MCTs AND TOCOTRIENOLS TO YOUR DIET

Nourishing our body well is the crucial first step towards maintaining overall wellness. It is clear that MCTs and Tocotrienols are powerhouse nutraceutical ingredients that should be included in your daily diet.

Importantly, it is easy to incorporate MCT into your daily routine. MCT oil can easily be added to your morning coffee, or to salads. However, the dosage depends on how long you have been taking it. People new to MCT should start with a very low dosage (approximately one teaspoon) and gradually increase it because MCT oil can cause stomach distress if taken inappropriately.

Tocotrienols are available as soft gels or as a sachet drink, and it is generally recommended to take 50 mg to 100 mg of Tocotrienols daily to promote overall wellness. – The Health

This article is contributed by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) and KLK Oleo

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