New study identifies gamma-tocotrienol as a superior form of vitamin E for muscle protection

Oct 15^th, 2025 – New York, USA – As muscle loss from aging and chronic inflammation continues to rise worldwide, demand for effective nutraceutical strategies to combat sarcopenia has grown. Muscle atrophy – marked by declining strength and shrinking muscle mass – not only impairs mobility but also significantly reduces quality of life, particularly among older adults and individuals with inflammatory or metabolic disorders. 

A new preclinical study published in Redox Biology¹ offers a promising solution. Researchers found that gamma-tocotrienol – a more potent form of vitamin E – outperforms conventional alpha-tocopherol (standard vitamin E) in protecting against inflammation-induced muscle atrophy. These findings highlight gamma-tocotrienol as a next-generation ingredient for mustle health and healthy aging formulations.

Led by researchers from Taipei Medical University, the study evaluated the protective effects of gamma-tocotrienol versus alpha-tocopherol both using C2C12 murine myotubes muscle cells and an LPS-induced muscle atrophy mouse model.

Findings demonstrated that gamma-tocotrienol:

• Suppressed key muscle-wasting biomarkers such as MuRF-1 and Atrogin-1, which drive protein degradation in muscle.
• Reduced oxidative stress and inflammation by inhibiting NF-KB, Foxo3a and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS).
• Preserved mitochondrial function, and upregulated Sirt1 and Pgc-1a – key regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism.
• Improved muscle fiber size and strength across both cellular and animal models

While both gamma-tocotrienol and alpha-tocopherol were shown to preserve muscle strength and mitigating systemic inflammation, as evidenced by improved grip strength and reduced serum IL-6 levels, gamma-tocotrienol demonstrated a more robust protective effect compared to alpha-tocopherol across all key markers. In direct comparison, alpha-tocopherol demonstrated weaker efficacy, reinforce the growing scientific that tocotrienols particularly the gamma- isoform possess unique biological advantages not shared by alpha-tocopherol.

“This study marks a pivotal moment for tocotrienols,” said Dr. Ariati Aris, Scientific Affairs Specialist at PhytoGaia. “The data clearly positions gamma-tocotrienol as a promising next generation vitamin E for muscle health applications. Unlike tocopherols which primarily act as antioxidants, gamma-tocotrienol works across multi-pathways, combining inflammation control, mitochondrial protection and muscle maintenance”.

“Muscle loss from aging or inflammation is a growing global concern – and brands today need more than just another antioxidant”, added Mr. Bryan See, Vice President at PhytoGaia. “Gamma-tocotrienol stands out as a preclinically-backed, muscle protective ingredient ideal for healthy aging, sports recovery, medical nutrition and mobility-focused functional foods. Palm fruits has the highest ratio and concentration of gamma-tocotrienol in nature. As such, our TocoGaia^® and STGaia^® ingredients — natural palm tocotrienol complexes with the highest concentration and ratio of gamma-tocotrienol – provide formulators with a clean, award-winning source of this potent vitamin E form to support muscle health and overall vitality”.

 References:

1. Chong JY et al. γ-Tocotrienol attenuates oxidative stress and preserves mitochondrial function in inflammation-induced muscle atrophy. Redox Biol. 2025 Sep 19;87:103874.