Oh, That Vitamin E! But There's a Better Form Against Heart Disease

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"Recently, the biological activities (antioxidant, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory) of vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) were reviewed by a number of investigators. The role of 'E] in inhibiting the development of 'atherosclerosis] in the aorta has been attributed to the lower activity of Protein Kinase C 'principal signaling enzyme found in all cells] which is caused by higher concentrations of 'vitamin E.] PKC plays an important role in 'cell signaling] and serves as the major receptor for tumor promotion, cellular growth, ....and 'cell] proliferation. Control of the proliferation of aortic smooth muscle cells is especially important because 'high] proliferation of these cells is associated with two vascular diseases, i.e., hypertension and atherosclerosis.

"Several investigators reported recently that tocotrienols have greater antioxidant activity than (vitamin E) and protect more efficiently against some free radical-related diseases than does 'vitamin E."

DETAILS: Brown Rice appears to be the best source of tocotrienols.

Oh, That Vitamin E! But There's a Better Form Against Heart Disease Bibliography

Journal of Nutrition, vol.131, 2001. Drs. Qureshi, Salser, Parmar & Emeson, Advanced Med. Res., Dept. of Molecular Cell & Molecular Biology Inst., U. of Cal., Los Angeles, CA 90024 & Dept. of Pathology, U. of IL, Chicago, IL 60612.