Annatto-E 150

Source of antioxidants

Vitamin E research has made considerable progress in recent decades. Vitamin E is not just a simple organic substance; it is a complex of specific constituents: four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. The differences in molecular weight and chemical structure between these components give them distinct properties that influence their biochemical functions. Commercial supplements are generally rich in tocopherols, particularly alpha-tocopherol, but tocotrienols exert unique effects on a variety of tissues, making their supplementation alone, without the addition of tocopherols, desirable.
The richest natural sources of vitamin E are whole grains, such as wheat (mainly the germ), rice, barley, oats, and corn, as well as palm fruit and annatto. Most of these foods therefore have a higher concentration of tocopherols than tocotrienols (T3). The vitamin E found in rice, for example, is composed of 50% tocopherols, 35% delta and gamma-T3 and 15% alpha and beta-T3 (the latter two being, however, less potent forms of T3 than the delta and gamma forms). Palm, on the other hand, benefits from a greater richness in tocotrienols: 25% tocopherols, 25% alpha and beta-T3 and 50% delta and gamma-T3. However, the most concentrated known source of natural tocotrienols is annatto, which is virtually tocopherol-free and contains 100% tocotrienols (90% delta and 10% gamma).
The tocotrienols in Annatto-E come from annatto, so they are pure and extracted from a natural source. Since research shows that tocopherols, particularly alpha-tocopherol, may interfere with the positive effects of tocotrienols, developing this product was a logical choice for Design For Health. It may be preferable to dose tocotrienols alone or to space out tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherol-containing products by 6 hours. The tocotrienols in this product are formulated as Delta Gold®, a proprietary tocotrienol formula from American River Nutrition. It is made in the USA and has FDA GRAS status.