Component

Alpha-tocotrienol

Alpha chromanol congener with an unsaturated tocotrienol side chain, distinct from alpha-tocopherol. Alpha-methylated tocotrienol form; distinct from alpha-tocopherol and other tocotrienols.

6 recorded relationships. Experimental role, claim status and evidence remain attached to each record.

Read recorded mechanisms Open recursive mind map

How nutrients influence it

Every nutrient with a recorded effect on this component, credited to the nutrient that acted rather than the chapter that recorded it. Open a nutrient to see the findings and the conditions they were measured under.

How nutrients reach it in more than one step

Chains of two or more recorded steps that end here, grouped by the nutrient they start from. Each step is a separate finding, so a chain is a route a mechanism could take, not proof that it does.

Tracing routes…

What it does

Every recorded relationship this component is part of, grouped by its role. Plain wording comes first; the technical statement follows.

Recorded relationships

What it acts on

  1. Calculated structures predicted hydrogen bonding between alpha-tocotrienol and astaxanthin as a possible explanation of the measured combination effect.

    Alpha-tocotrienol → Astaxanthin source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    evidence_access
    Primary abstract
    experimental_model
    Computational structure analysis accompanying the liposome experiment.
    limitations
    The proposed contact was not directly demonstrated in human membranes.
    nutrient_topic
    Astaxanthin collection; molecular form, preparation, species, exposure and manipulation remain explicit. · Astaxanthin
    plain_language
    A molecular interaction was proposed to explain the synergy.
    primary_references
    Synergistic antioxidative effect of astaxanthin and tocotrienol by co-encapsulated in liposomes. · 2016 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27698536/ · DOI 10.3164/jcbn.15-153

    Astaxanthin: transport, membrane chemistry, signaling and nutrient interactions (2026-09-19) · lines 206–212

    AI-assisted research curation; primary-abstract references and experimental limitations individually identified. Not publisher full text. · supports · Computational structure analysis accompanying the liposome experiment. · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ## astaxanthin-tocotrienol-hypothesis A molecular interaction was proposed to explain the synergy. Calculated structures predicted hydrogen bonding between alpha-tocotrienol and astaxanthin as a possible explanation of the measured combination effect. Model: Computational structure analysis accompanying the liposome experiment. Limitations: The proposed contact was not directly demonstrated in human membranes. Evidence access: Primary abstract Synergistic antioxidative effect of astaxanthin and tocotrienol by co-encapsulated in liposomes. · 2016 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27698536/ · DOI 10.3164/jcbn.15-153
    Complete structured claim and evidence

  2. In HT-1080 cells challenged with the GPX4 inhibitor RSL3, alpha-tocotrienol suppressed the oxidized C11-BODIPY signal at lower tested concentrations than alpha-tocopherol.

    Alpha-tocotrienol → Lipid peroxidation source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    cross_nutrient
    true
    evidence_location
    Figure 4B
    experimental_model
    RSL3 challenge and flow-cytometric C11-BODIPY assay
    exposure
    E forms at 1 and 30 µM for 1 h before 0.5 µM RSL3 for 2 h.
    limitations
    Potency in cell assays does not establish nutritional equivalence or human efficacy; the study also detected toxicity at higher concentrations, with tocotrienols toxic at lower concentrations than tocopherols. Probe oxidation is not a chemically resolved inventory of endogenous phospholipid products.
    nutrient_topic
    Vitamin E research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. · Vitamin E
    organism
    Homo sapiens
    plain_language
    Alpha-tocotrienol more effectively limited the lipid-oxidation reporter in this cancer-cell assay.
    primary_references
    [ver-yang2026] Tocotrienols exhibit superior ferroptosis inhibition over tocopherols. (2026). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41501350/ DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-34673-1
    tissue_or_cell_type
    HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells

    Vitamin E: transport, membrane protection and nutrient interactions (2026-09-17) · lines 802–814

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · RSL3 challenge and flow-cytometric C11-BODIPY assay · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### ver-alpha-t3-cellular-oxidation In HT-1080 cells challenged with the GPX4 inhibitor RSL3, alpha-tocotrienol suppressed the oxidized C11-BODIPY signal at lower tested concentrations than alpha-tocopherol. Condition category: normal nutrient_topic: Vitamin E research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. plain_language: Alpha-tocotrienol more effectively limited the lipid-oxidation reporter in this cancer-cell assay. organism: Homo sapiens tissue_or_cell_type: HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells experimental_model: RSL3 challenge and flow-cytometric C11-BODIPY assay limitations: Potency in cell assays does not establish nutritional equivalence or human efficacy; the study also detected toxicity at higher concentrations, with tocotrienols toxic at lower concentrations than tocopherols. Probe oxidation is not a chemically resolved inventory of endogenous phospholipid products. exposure: E forms at 1 and 30 µM for 1 h before 0.5 µM RSL3 for 2 h. cross_nutrient: true evidence_location: Figure 4B [ver-yang2026] Tocotrienols exhibit superior ferroptosis inhibition over tocopherols. (2026). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41501350/ DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-34673-1
    Complete structured claim and evidence

  3. In Pfa1 mouse fibroblasts with inducible Gpx4 deletion, alpha-tocotrienol preserved viability at an EC50 of 0.12 µM compared with 2.0 µM for alpha-tocopherol over 72 hours.

    Alpha-tocotrienol → Ferroptosis source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    availability_state
    machinery_impairment Imported condition classification; unverified.
    cross_nutrient
    true
    evidence_location
    Figure 3
    experimental_model
    Inducible Gpx4 deletion and resazurin viability assay
    exposure
    1 µM 4-hydroxytamoxifen for 72 h; tocotrienol 0–10 µM and tocopherol 0–100 µM.
    limitations
    Potency in cell assays does not establish nutritional equivalence or human efficacy; the study also detected toxicity at higher concentrations, with tocotrienols toxic at lower concentrations than tocopherols.
    nutrient_topic
    Vitamin E research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. · Vitamin E
    organism
    Mus musculus
    plain_language
    Alpha-tocotrienol was more potent than alpha-tocopherol in this GPX4-deletion cell-rescue assay.
    primary_references
    [ver-yang2026] Tocotrienols exhibit superior ferroptosis inhibition over tocopherols. (2026). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41501350/ DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-34673-1
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Pfa1 embryonic fibroblasts
    trigger_kind
    machinery_impairment Imported condition classification; unverified.

    Vitamin E: transport, membrane protection and nutrient interactions (2026-09-17) · lines 774–786

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Inducible Gpx4 deletion and resazurin viability assay · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### ver-alpha-t3-gpx4-rescue-potency In Pfa1 mouse fibroblasts with inducible Gpx4 deletion, alpha-tocotrienol preserved viability at an EC50 of 0.12 µM compared with 2.0 µM for alpha-tocopherol over 72 hours. Condition category: machinery_impairment nutrient_topic: Vitamin E research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. plain_language: Alpha-tocotrienol was more potent than alpha-tocopherol in this GPX4-deletion cell-rescue assay. organism: Mus musculus tissue_or_cell_type: Pfa1 embryonic fibroblasts experimental_model: Inducible Gpx4 deletion and resazurin viability assay limitations: Potency in cell assays does not establish nutritional equivalence or human efficacy; the study also detected toxicity at higher concentrations, with tocotrienols toxic at lower concentrations than tocopherols. exposure: 1 µM 4-hydroxytamoxifen for 72 h; tocotrienol 0–10 µM and tocopherol 0–100 µM. cross_nutrient: true evidence_location: Figure 3 [ver-yang2026] Tocotrienols exhibit superior ferroptosis inhibition over tocopherols. (2026). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41501350/ DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-34673-1
    Complete structured claim and evidence

  4. Alpha-tocotrienol suppressed AAPH-initiated liposomal oxidation more strongly than alpha-tocopherol in the study’s FENIX assay, which tracked competitive oxidation of a fluorescent reporter.

    Alpha-tocotrienol → Lipid peroxidation source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    cross_nutrient
    false
    evidence_location
    Figure 4A; FENIX Methods
    experimental_model
    Cell-free fluorescence-enabled inhibited autoxidation
    exposure
    Vitamin E forms tested at 1, 10 and 100 µM; 1 mM lipid, 1 mM AAPH, 37 °C.
    limitations
    Potency in cell assays does not establish nutritional equivalence or human efficacy; the study also detected toxicity at higher concentrations, with tocotrienols toxic at lower concentrations than tocopherols. Fluorescent reporter kinetics are not a universal radical-trapping rate constant.
    nutrient_topic
    Vitamin E research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. · Vitamin E
    organism
    Cell-free
    plain_language
    The two alpha forms differed in protection of artificial lipid membranes.
    primary_references
    [ver-yang2026] Tocotrienols exhibit superior ferroptosis inhibition over tocopherols. (2026). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41501350/ DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-34673-1
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Phosphatidylcholine liposomes

    Vitamin E: transport, membrane protection and nutrient interactions (2026-09-17) · lines 788–800

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Cell-free fluorescence-enabled inhibited autoxidation · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### ver-alpha-t3-liposomal-oxidation Alpha-tocotrienol suppressed AAPH-initiated liposomal oxidation more strongly than alpha-tocopherol in the study’s FENIX assay, which tracked competitive oxidation of a fluorescent reporter. Condition category: normal nutrient_topic: Vitamin E research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. plain_language: The two alpha forms differed in protection of artificial lipid membranes. organism: Cell-free tissue_or_cell_type: Phosphatidylcholine liposomes experimental_model: Cell-free fluorescence-enabled inhibited autoxidation limitations: Potency in cell assays does not establish nutritional equivalence or human efficacy; the study also detected toxicity at higher concentrations, with tocotrienols toxic at lower concentrations than tocopherols. Fluorescent reporter kinetics are not a universal radical-trapping rate constant. exposure: Vitamin E forms tested at 1, 10 and 100 µM; 1 mM lipid, 1 mM AAPH, 37 °C. cross_nutrient: false evidence_location: Figure 4A; FENIX Methods [ver-yang2026] Tocotrienols exhibit superior ferroptosis inhibition over tocopherols. (2026). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41501350/ DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-34673-1
    Complete structured claim and evidence

What acts on it

  1. In a rat alpha-TTP membrane-transfer competition assay, alpha-tocotrienol had relative affinity 12.4% of RRR-alpha-tocopherol (100%).

    Rat alpha-tocopherol transfer protein → Alpha-tocotrienol source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    cross_nutrient
    false
    experimental_model
    Purified rat liver protein and membrane-transfer competition
    exposure
    37 °C, 30 min; Table 1 competition-derived affinity.
    limitations
    Relative transfer competition, not a direct Kd or human clinical efficacy ratio.
    nutrient_topic
    Vitamin E research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. · Vitamin E
    organism
    Rattus norvegicus
    plain_language
    Rat alpha-TTP distinguished this form from RRR-alpha-tocopherol.
    primary_references
    [hosomi1997] Affinity for alpha-tocopherol transfer protein as a determinant of the biological activities of vitamin E analogs. (1997). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9199513/ DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(97)00499-7
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Liver protein/liposomes

    Vitamin E: transport, membrane protection and nutrient interactions (2026-09-17) · lines 168–179

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Purified rat liver protein and membrane-transfer competition · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### ve-transport-rat-ttp-affinity-alpha-tocotrienol In a rat alpha-TTP membrane-transfer competition assay, alpha-tocotrienol had relative affinity 12.4% of RRR-alpha-tocopherol (100%). Condition category: normal nutrient_topic: Vitamin E research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. plain_language: Rat alpha-TTP distinguished this form from RRR-alpha-tocopherol. organism: Rattus norvegicus tissue_or_cell_type: Liver protein/liposomes experimental_model: Purified rat liver protein and membrane-transfer competition limitations: Relative transfer competition, not a direct Kd or human clinical efficacy ratio. exposure: 37 °C, 30 min; Table 1 competition-derived affinity. cross_nutrient: false [hosomi1997] Affinity for alpha-tocopherol transfer protein as a determinant of the biological activities of vitamin E analogs. (1997). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9199513/ DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(97)00499-7
    Complete structured claim and evidence

Where it participates (unsigned role)

  1. Liposomes containing astaxanthin plus alpha- or gamma-tocotrienol showed radical-scavenging activity greater than the calculated additive activity in the reported singlet-oxygen/hydroxyl-radical assays.

    Astaxanthin → Singlet molecular oxygen source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    evidence_access
    Primary abstract
    experimental_model
    Cell-free co-encapsulated liposomes; matched single-agent comparisons.
    limitations
    Measured assay synergy is not demonstrated oral or clinical synergy.
    nutrient_topic
    Astaxanthin collection; molecular form, preparation, species, exposure and manipulation remain explicit. · Astaxanthin
    plain_language
    Some vitamin E forms worked together with astaxanthin in this test system.
    primary_references
    Synergistic antioxidative effect of astaxanthin and tocotrienol by co-encapsulated in liposomes. · 2016 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27698536/ · DOI 10.3164/jcbn.15-153

    Astaxanthin: transport, membrane chemistry, signaling and nutrient interactions (2026-09-19) · lines 190–196

    AI-assisted research curation; primary-abstract references and experimental limitations individually identified. Not publisher full text. · supports · Cell-free co-encapsulated liposomes; matched single-agent comparisons. · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ## astaxanthin-tocotrienol-synergy Some vitamin E forms worked together with astaxanthin in this test system. Liposomes containing astaxanthin plus alpha- or gamma-tocotrienol showed radical-scavenging activity greater than the calculated additive activity in the reported singlet-oxygen/hydroxyl-radical assays. Model: Cell-free co-encapsulated liposomes; matched single-agent comparisons. Limitations: Measured assay synergy is not demonstrated oral or clinical synergy. Evidence access: Primary abstract Synergistic antioxidative effect of astaxanthin and tocotrienol by co-encapsulated in liposomes. · 2016 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27698536/ · DOI 10.3164/jcbn.15-153
    Complete structured claim and evidence

In the sources

Preserved passages that mention this component, quoted exactly. Open one to read it in context.

    This is a research prototype built from draft material. It is not medical advice, and its statements still await verification against the original studies.

    Evidence, AI assistance and curation standards