Study: Gamma-Tocotrienol Slows Down High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity In Rats

22 Sep 2014 --- In a new study, researchers from the University of Florida show that gamma-tocotrienol from red palm oil accumulates in the adipose tissue and helps to slow down high-fat diet-induced obesity and improves insulin sensitivity in mice, via inhibiting adipose inflammation.

In this new study, Dr. SK Chung and her team investigated the effects of gamma-tocotrienol (Carotech Inc.) on early onset obesity, inflammation, and insulin resistance in mice. The mice were randomly assigned to three different diet groups, namely low fat (LF), high fat (HF) with 60% calories from fat, or HF mixed with 0.05% gamma-tocotrienol. Measurements of gamma-tocotrienol concentrations in blood and adipose tissue; effects of gamma-tocotrienol on body weight gain, adipose volume, fasting blood glucose, insulin level and various inflammatory biomarkers were recorded.

Results showed that after just 4 weeks of supplementation, gamma-tocotrienol significantly accumulated in adipose tissue and decreased HF diet-induced weight gain. In addition, gamma-tocotrienol improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity; reduced inflammation in adipose tissue and at systemic levels; and lastly, decreased macrophage M1 activation.

In her previous study, Dr. Chung showed that low concentration (1 microMolar) of gamma-tocotrienol inhibits adipogenesis in primary human adipose-derived stem cells via activation of AMP kinase and autophagy.

“Obesity has become one of the most alarming and costly problems of this century, it is associated with metabolic syndrome, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) estimates that about 79 million adults and 13 million children aged 2-19 years in the US are obese. As such, controlling the rate of obesity will lead to reduced risks of people contracting these health conditions,” says Bryan See, Regional Product Manager, Carotech Inc., NJ.

“We are honored to collaborate with Dr. SK Chung and her team to conduct this study, where the results strongly support earlier studies done in Japan, Taiwan as well as their own facility at the University of Florida, which shows that gamma-tocotrienol significantly attenuates obesity and obesity-associated metabolic complications. Tocomin, full spectrum palm tocotrienol complex naturally contains high level of gamma-tocotrienol, and may potentially be useful as a natural supplement for the management of body weight,” added Bryan. 

Reference:
Zhao L, et al. (2014). Gamma-tocotrienol attenuates high-fat diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance by inhibiting adipose inflammation and M1 macrophage recruitment. Int J Obes (Lond) , 2014 Jul 21. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2014.124.