Seeds of Tropical Tree Lend Lipid-Lowering Compound

Annatto, also known as roucou or achiote, is derived from the seeds of the achiote trees (Bixa orellana), that grow in tropical and subtropical regions around the world.  Asaf A. Qureshi, from the University of Missouri/Kansas City (Missouri, USA), and colleagues assessed the effects of tocotrienols – a vitamin E compound – on cholesterol.  The team enrolled 31 men and women with elevated cholesterol levels, in a four-week long study in which subjects received 125 to 750mg per day of annatto tocotrienols.  A daily  dose of 250 mg was found to reduce total cholesterol by 15%, Low-density lipoprotein (LDL; “bad”) cholesterol by 18%, and triglycerides by 14%.  Importantly, at this dose levels of inflammatory cytokines, as well as their gene expression, was downregulated by as much as 64%.  As well, the annatto tocotrienols upregulated the microRNAs that  are commonly downregulated by hypercholesterolemia.  Observing that:” consumption of [delta]-tocotrienol plus [heart-healthy] diet causes significant reduction in serum lipid parameters and several cytokines (TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10) at a low optimal dose (250 mg/d),” the study authors submit that: “The capacity of [delta]-tocotrienol to modulate inflammation is partly attributable to dose-dependent properties of inhibition/activation, which may play a major role in future treatment of cardiovascular diseases.”