A new study, published in Carcinogenesis, revealed that annatto-derived vitamin E tocotrienols (~90% delta- and 10% gamma-tocotrienol as DeltaGold from American River Nutrition, Hadley, MA) may help prevent tumors that lead to breast cancer.

The researchers, lead by Elisa Pierpaoli from IRCCS/INRCA in Italy, supplemented mice with annatto tocotrienols and left another group untreated. These mice were genetically prone to developing breast cancer and carried a mouse mammary tumor virus. The scientists discovered that supplementation not only delayed the growth of mammary tumors, but also reduced the number and size of said tumors. Tocotrienols also significantly reduced the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER 2), or the progression of certain breast cancers.

Furthermore, the authors discovered an increased bioavailability of delta tocotrienols in the mice’s liver and tumor.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, June 2013 (online 4/25/13)