• Epidemiological studies have linked the dietary intake of Vitamin E and other anti-oxidants with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke and with a decrease in carotid artery thickness.
• Anti-oxidant vitamins slowed the progress of coronary artery artherosclerosis.
• Tocotrienols had decreased the amount of cholesterol fatty plaque in carotid artery, thus increasing blood flow to the brain.
• Research showed that patients with confirmed carotid arteriosclerosis, who consumed 240mg of palm based tocotrienols/ day for 18-36 months had a decrease in the amount of cholesterol plaque in their carotid artery while those receiving placebo did not show such an effect.
• Palm based tocotrienols protects the ApoE knockout mice against cholesterol build-up and hence prevent arteriosclerosis.
• Delta-tocotrienols was the most effective Vitamin E for reducing the endothelial expression of adhesion molecules and adhesion on monocytes, thus reducing the risk of developing artherosclerosis.

Endothelial vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (Eselectin), are involved in atherogenesis. Adhesion molecules also play a role in the development of arterosclerosis and risks of future myocardial infarction. Anti-adhesion therapy is being studied as a new means of reducing the risk of developing cardiovasculardisease (CVD). Hence, attempts to lower the production of adhesion molecules have received wide attention. Tocotrienols is a potent and effective agent in the reduction of cellular adhesion molecule expression and monocytic cell adherence.

The unsaturated side chain of tocotrienols allows for more efficient penetration into tissues that have saturated fatty layers such as the brain and liver.

Oral supplementation of tocotrienols may protect neuron from toxic effects.