Recent Progress on the Skeletal Research of Tocotrienol

Osteoporosis, a degenerative skeletal disease that leads to fragility fractures, is becoming increasingly prevalent in our aging society. The ongoing search for a therapeutic agent with superior performance and fewer adverse effects has led to the discovery of tocotrienol (T3), a type of vitamin E with unique biological properties, as a promising candidate for anti-osteoporosis treatment. Previous reviews on the skeletal effects of T3 have identified several research gaps, which have been addressed in recent studies. This chapter aims to summarize some of the recent progress made in skeletal research on T3. Recent research findings have shown that: (1) T3 is deposited in the bone, but there may be a threshold for its skeletal effects; (2) T3 can influence the osteocyte-associated bone remodeling through the Wnt and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand/osteoprotegerin signaling pathways; (3) The skeletal actions of T3 are mediated by the mevalonate pathway; (4) T3 is effective in suppressing bone resorption in humans. Additionally, this chapter provides a summary of new discoveries regarding the action of T3 on bone remodeling. Furthermore, it highlights several research gaps that still need to be addressed in this field. It is our hope that continued progress in this area will help bridge these gaps and promote the clinical use of T3 as an anti-osteoporotic agent.