Tocotrienols
Summary
Tocotrienols are vitamin E compounds from annatto, palm or rice bran. Small trials of 300–600 mg a day found lower bone-breakdown markers after menopause and better liver and glucose markers (grade D). A meta-analysis found higher HDL but no change in LDL.
Key facts
- Part of the vitamin E family; the annatto extract studied was 90% delta- and 10% gamma-tocotrienol[1]
- 300 or 600 mg a day of annatto tocotrienol for 12 weeks lowered a bone-resorption marker in 87 postmenopausal women with osteopenia; bone density was not measured[1]
- 600 mg a day of delta-tocotrienol for 24 weeks improved fatty-liver index and insulin resistance in 71 adults with fatty liver[3]
- A meta-analysis of 15 trials found tocotrienols raised HDL but did not change total or LDL cholesterol[5]
- Up to 600 mg a day for 12 weeks did not change liver or kidney tests in postmenopausal women[2]
- 3 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 11, 2026
How it works
ProposedTocotrienols are antioxidants; in the bone trial, a DNA oxidative-damage marker and RANKL (a bone-resorption signal) fell with supplementation.[1]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bones & joints | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 87 · 2018 | 1 row |
| Metabolic | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 77 · 2022 | 2 rows |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bone-resorption markers after menopause | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 87 · 2018 Postmenopausal women with osteopenia Form: Annatto tocotrienol (90% delta, 10% gamma) · Dose: 300 or 600 mg/day · Duration: 12 weeks Urinary NTX, serum RANKL and an oxidative-stress marker fell compared with placebo; no difference between the two doses. | 29330573 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
| Glucose control in prediabetes | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 77 · 2022 Adults aged 18–60 with prediabetes in Pakistan Form: Delta-tocotrienol · Dose: 300 mg/day · Duration: 12 weeks Fasting glucose, HbA1c, insulin and HOMA-IR fell more than with placebo. | 35099428 (opens PubMed)Source [4] |
| Fatty-liver index and insulin resistance | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 71 · 2020 Adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease Form: Delta-tocotrienol · Dose: 600 mg/day (300 mg twice daily) · Duration: 24 weeks Fatty-liver index, HOMA-IR, CRP, ALT and AST fell more than with placebo, and ultrasound steatosis improved. | 32951743 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annatto tocotrienols (mostly delta) | Varies[2] | Blood delta-tocotrienol rose by week 6 and did not differ between 300 and 600 mg a day.[2] | No change in liver or kidney tests at up to 600 mg a day for 12 weeks.[2] | Bone markers, liver and glucose markers |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 300 mg of tocotrienols a day for 12 weeks to 600 mg a day for 24 weeks.[1][3][4]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
None found in our sources.
Who should be careful
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- No safety data were found in the trials we cite.[1]
- People on glucose-lowering medicine
- Fasting glucose and HbA1c fell in a prediabetes trial; glucose should be watched if combining.[4]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Where to buy Tocotrienols
Products from brands we partner with that contain Tocotrienols. Listing a product is not a claim that it works; check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
- SupersmartPaid linkAnnatto Tocotrienols2 softgels: 100 mg tocotrienols from 200 mg DeltaGold annatto extract; 30 servings. A third of the lowest dose studied (300 mg a day).Shop at Supersmart (opens in new tab)Price and label checked 2026-10-11 on the brand’s site.
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Frequently asked questions
Are tocotrienols the same as vitamin E?
They are part of the vitamin E family, but most vitamin E supplements contain tocopherols, not tocotrienols.[1]
Do tocotrienols help bones?
One 12-week trial found lower bone-breakdown markers after menopause; no trial has shown changes in bone density or fractures.[1]
Do tocotrienols lower cholesterol?
A meta-analysis found higher HDL but no change in total or LDL cholesterol.[5]
Sources
- [1]Tocotrienol supplementation suppressed bone resorption and oxidative stress in postmenopausal osteopenic women: a 12-week randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial.. Osteoporos Int, 2018. RCT
- [2]A 12-week evaluation of annatto tocotrienol supplementation for postmenopausal women: safety, quality of life, body composition, physical activity, and nutrient intake.. BMC Complement Altern Med, 2018. RCT
- [3]Delta-tocotrienol supplementation improves biochemical markers of hepatocellular injury and steatosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial.. Complement Ther Med, 2020. RCT
- [4]Effects of delta-tocotrienol supplementation on glycaemic control in individuals with prediabetes: A randomized controlled study.. J Pak Med Assoc, 2022. RCT
- [5]The effects of tocotrienol supplementation on lipid profile: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.. Complement Ther Med, 2020. meta-analysis
What changed
- Effect arrows corrected on 1 row(s): outcomes where a harmful measure fell (pain, symptoms, blood pressure, lipids, glucose, risk) now show as improved (up). No study data changed.
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities (title, year and journal taken from the PubMed record) and abstracts read for each cited row. Product details in Where to buy read from the brand page on the date shown. Self-reviewed in a second strict pass (no independent reviewer yet).