The positive improvements reported in adults were primarily in non-verbal memory and sleep disturbance, with no differences in verbal memory or executive function compared to placebo.
“This is the first controlled study demonstrating the cognitive-enhancing and sleep-promoting effects of stand-alone supplementation with tocotrienols,” wrote researchers at Clinical Research Australia, Murdoch University and BGG Americas, which funded the study.
Dr. Adrian Lopresti, lead authors and managing director of Clinical Research Australia, told NutraIngredients that there is already some research in the literature to support an association between eating vitamin E-rich foods and having higher blood concentrations of vitamin E with better cognitive health, but randomized controlled clinical trials showing causation are limited. Most existing research has used the α-tocopherol form of vitamin E, he added.
“In recent years, there has been an increased interest in another vitamin E form known as tocotrienols,” Dr. Lopresti said. “Research suggests they have higher physiological activity, including possessing greater neuroprotective effects and antioxidant potential than tocopherols.”
Highlighting the positive effects of the supplement on sleep, he added: “Sleep is important for cognitive function, and increased oxidative stress and inflammation are associated with poorer sleep quality. As tocotrienols have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, it was theorized that it may also improve sleep.”
Study details
The study involved 91 adults between between the ages of 40 and 80 who were randomly assigned to receive either two daily EachTheraPrimE Rice tocotrienol softgels or a placebo for 12 weeks. Each softgel contains 50 mg of tocotrienols from rice bran, derived from 350 mg of TheraPrimE Rice Tocotrienol 35 Oil.
Researchers assessed memory, learning, executive function and sleep disturbance, using appropriate measures, and evaluated blood biomarkers for inflammation, oxidative stress and neurotropic activity.
The findings revealed that, compared to the placebo, tocotrienol supplementation was associated with greater improvements in general memory, primarily due to improvements in nonverbal memory. There were no differences between groups for verbal memory and self-reported executive function; however, the tocotrienols group showed greater improvements in sleep disturbance.
The blood analysis of inflammatory markers revealed a greater increase in Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the placebo group and a greater increase in C-reactive protein (CRP) in the tocotrienols group.
The researchers noted a need for future trials involving participants with more severe cognitive deficits and a more extended treatment period to help substantiate the safety and efficacy of tocotrienols for cognitive decline.
Source: Frontiers in Nutrition. 2025, Volume 12, doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1621516. “An examination into the effects of tocotrienols (TheraPrimE rice) on cognitive abilities and sleep in healthy adults: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.” Authors: A. L. Lopresti et al.
