Antioxidant tocotrienols (vitamin E) supplement

Our dietary supplement Annatto Tocotrienols is formulated from an extract of Bixa orellana. Also known as roucou, urucum and achiote, this shrub grows in tropical regions of the Americas, where its spiky red fruits are recognised for their health benefits. Known as annattos, these seed-filled fruits have been used for many years in traditional medicine, where they are recommended for treating insect bites or for protecting against the sun's rays.

In actual fact, Bixa Orellana fruits offer considerably more benefits. They are rich in carotenoids such as beta-carotene, a powerful natural antioxidant, and contain a number of trace elements including selenium, magnesium and calcium. They also have a high content of a specific form of vitamin E called tocotrienols. Formulated from the fruit of Bixa Orellana, our dietary supplement thus offers a natural vitamin E concentrate.

What are the benefits associated to Annatto Tocotrienols?

Given its essential role in the body, vitamin E must be ingested from the diet in sufficient amounts. While it is present in plant-source foods such as vegetable oils and nuts, intake can nonetheless fall short of optimum levels. In fact, there is not just one form of vitamin E but eight distinct forms, which are grouped into tocopherols and tocotrienols. There are fewer dietary sources of tocotrienols which is why our supplement Annatto Tocotrienols has been formulated from natural tocotrienols extracted from the fruit of Bixa orellana. This formulation offers 90% delta-tocotrienols and 10% gamma-tocotrienols.

Like all vitamins, vitamin E has a number of roles within the body. It also has many properties in common with other vitamins, such as natural antioxidant power, which it shares with its well-known counterpart vitamin C. This antioxidant potency helps to:

• Fight ageing of the cells and skin by protecting cell membranes such as those in the skin.
• Combat coronary disease, a type of cardiovascular disease caused by circulation problems, by protecting the red blood cells responsible for healthy oxygenation of the body.
• Prevent cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and stroke, by protecting low density lipoproteins (LDLs) – particles known for their key role in transporting cholesterol in the bloodstream.

What does research show about Annatto Tocotrienols?

Despite the many studies conducted on tocotrienols, their mechanism of action within the body has yet to be fully explained. Research suggests, however, that these forms of natural vitamin E may offer significant therapeutic potential. Indeed, scientists believe that tocotrienols may:

• Positively influence cholesterol metabolism due to an inhibitory effect on the enzyme HMG-CoA, which reduces the amount of cholesterol produced by the liver.
• Reduce levels of total cholesterol and bad LDL-cholesterol.
• Increase levels of good HDL-cholesterol.
• Promote a balanced lipid profile, helping to prevent the build-up of atheromatous plaque in the arteries and maintain normal blood levels of glucose and triglycerides.
• Have a diuretic effect.
• Help prevent or reduce the development of several diseases and ailments such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, hepatitis, diarrhoea, fever and cardiovascular dysfunction.

Our nutritional supplement Annatto Tocotrienols has been developed to both reduce the risk of vitamin E deficiency and capitalise on the benefits of this molecule, available to buy online at Supersmart. It offers significant therapeutic potential for preventing and treating certain diseases. In order to create a high quality supplement, Annatto Tocotrienols has been formulated from natural extracts and is produced in the form of softgels. Each capsule contains 100mg of annatto extract (Bixa Orellana) standardised to 50% tocotrienols. This formula means the recommended dose is 2 capsules a day, to be taken with dinner.