Tocotrienols Extend Telomeres and Turn Back the Clock

A study with human cells and tocotrienols¹demonstrated potent anti-aging effects of tocotrienols, actually extending the length of telomeres while preventing damage to DNA. This study is knocking on the door of the fountain of youth.

Tocotrienols are the most potent form of vitamin E.  They have garnered world-wide scientific attention for their ability to help kill cancer in tandem with and without cancer drugs, their ability to lower cholesterol in a safe way, and for a literal mountain of impressive cardiovascular research reviewed in my article, Tocotrienols: Twenty Years of Dazzling Cardiovascular and Cancer Research.

Telomere length determines how many times a cell can split and divide before it runs out of gas and dies – a phenomena called the Hayflick limit. The theoretical maximum Hayflick limit for the human body is set at 120 years. Telomeres are shortened inappropriately by excessive free radical damage, which causes them to run into major problems long before age 120 in most people.

Figuring out how to extend telomeres is an intriguing anti-aging strategy. However, if cells are not healthy then they are likely to become cancer cells. Thus, you need a way to extend telomeres while simultaneously preserving cellular health, which is exactly what this study demonstrates.

Exposure of human cells to tocotrienols enabled them to extend the length of their telomeres, while also rejuvenate the telomerase enzyme that enables the telomereA telomere is a repeating sequence of DNA at the end of a chromosome. Each time a cell replicates and divides the telomere loses some of its length. Eventually the telomere runs out and the cell can no longer divide and rejuvenate, triggering a poor state of cell health that contributes to disease risk and eventual cell death. to be replaced as the cell splits and divides. At the same time, tocotrienols prevented damage to DNA. This means the cells retained their health while being rejuvenated.

It is no small wonder that scientists are calling tocotrienols the vitamin E of the 21st century. Who knows, maybe if you take them you will live to see the 22nd century.