Natural Form Of Vitamin E Prevents Nerve Cell Damage Following Stroke

U.S. researchers have found that a natural form of vitamin E activates the production of a protein in the brain that washes toxic substances from neurons and keeps them alive following a stroke. The researchers suggest that alpha-tocotrienol could be have a more powerful effect than drugs in acting on single mechanisms for preventing stroke damage. The tocotrienol form of vitamin E, or TCT, is commonly found in the Southeast Asian diet. It is scarce in the American diet, however, but available in nutritional supplements. The researchers said alpha-tocotrienol influences the production of the protein MRP1 that clears away a toxic compound that destroys neurons when stroke blocks blood flow to brain tissue.