Vitamin E from Malaysian palm oil helps to protect brain's white matter

[KathyF]

Concerned about stroke? A two-year study finds that vitamin E from Malaysian palm oil helps to protect brain's white matter

While you may know about your brain’s gray matter, did you also know that about 50 percent of your brain is made of white matter? The health of your brain’s white matter affects how well it learns and functions. This is also the area of the brain most often affected by stroke. Now results of a two-year human clinical study published in the American Heart Association journal, Stroke, show that vitamin E tocotrienols derived from Malaysian palm oil supports white matter health by weakening the progression of white matter lesions. [...]

The article is rather long. You can read the rest here: http://tinyurl.com/mv2wn5n

Apparently the key is using a product that includes mixed tocotrienols. The trick will be in finding the right mix in a dry formula.

“These studies show that taking palm-derived tocotrienols daily may be an easy way to be proactive about your brain health, especially if you are at high risk for stroke,” comments emergency room physician Joseph Keenan, who is also considered one of the leading national experts in the field of nutritional supplement research and cardiovascular disease. “However it’s unlikely that most Americans currently get this benefit even if they take vitamin E supplements because most of those supplements available do not contain alpha tocotrienol.”

Keenan explains and agrees with Yuen that, “Natural vitamin E comes in eight different forms. Four are called tocopherols, which are the forms typically found in the synthetic or natural vitamin E supplements. The other four are called tocotrienols, nutrients which function completely differently than tocopherols.

 

[bearmom]

Seems a bit ironic that we've spent decades avoiding fats to protect our hearts and brains, and now it's what we need. I need to read through the article, but too late here now to think. Or maybe it's the lack of fats keeping me from thinking!