An open-label, single-arm pilot study of tocotrienols supplementation on improving memory and attention in healthy young adults

Rae Yi Xin Par ^{a, 1}, Cheryl Wei Ling Teo ^{b, 1}, Javier Joon Kiat Tan ^c, Yee Wei Ung ^d, Kiang Soon Heng ^a, Li Ting Hang ^a, Mervyn Yeo ^a, Wei Ney Yap ^b
^a School of Applied Science, Biomedical Sciences, Republic Polytechnic, 9 Woodlands Avenue 9, 738964 Singapore, Singapore
^b Research and Development Department, Davos Life Science, 3, Biopolis Drive, #04-19, Synapse, 138623 Singapore, Singapore
^c School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798 Singapore, Singapore
^d Research and Development Department, KL-Kepong Oleomas (KLK Oleo), Level 8, Menara KLK, No 1, Jalan PJU 7/6, Mutiara Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Journal of Functional Foods
DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2022.105055
Published online: May 2022

Abstract:

This study aimed to investigate the beneﬁcial effects of tocotrienols (T3) supplementation on one’s attention and memory. Eleven healthy subjects were enrolled to receive placebo followed by T3 in 6 weeks. Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) and Digit Span Test (DST) were used to access subjects’ sustained attention and working memory. Electroencephalogram (EEG) was used to examine the brainwave activity. T3 supplementation signiﬁcantly improved the memory of the subjects in relative to the baseline as measured by average mean span for forward and reverse DST. Notably, a signiﬁcant memory enhancement for T3 over placebo was observed. Subjects who consumed T3 have shown faster reaction as compared to placebo as assessed by PVT. T3 supple-mentation showed an overall reduction in alpha and low-beta power in comparison to placebo, indicating T3 promoted a higher neural efﬁcacy. T3 supplementation may act as a potential nootropic in improving the mental performance and cognitive activity.

Keywords:

Tocotrienols, Attention, Memory, Psychomotor vigilance task, Digit span test, Electroencephalogram