Tocotrienol (vitamin E) and hair: the Malaysian study

Vitamin E supplements are often marketed for skin and hair. One study that comes up again and again is a small Malaysian trial of tocotrienols, published in 2010. It is worth understanding exactly what it found, because the result is often stretched further than the evidence allows.

What tocotrienols are

Vitamin E is not one substance but a group of compounds found in many foods ¹. Tocotrienols belong to this vitamin E family and are known as potent antioxidants ². Good food sources of vitamin E include plant oils, nuts and seeds, and wheatgerm ¹.

Why researchers looked at hair

The study authors noted earlier research linking oxidative stress with hair loss: people with alopecia generally show lower levels of antioxidants in the scalp and a higher lipid peroxidation index ². Since tocotrienols are antioxidants, they set out to test whether taking them would affect hair growth ².

What the study did

The trial was run by researchers at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, with one author from a Malaysian pharmaceutical and supplement company ². In the study:

• 21 volunteers with hair loss were randomly assigned to take 100 mg of mixed tocotrienols by mouth every day.
• 17 volunteers took a placebo capsule.
• The team counted hairs in a pre-set area of the scalp and weighed 20 short hair clippings at the start, at 4 months and at 8 months ².

What it found

After 8 months, the number of hairs in the tocotrienol group had increased by 34.5%, compared with a 0.1% decrease in the placebo group ². However, the weight of 20 hair clippings, a rough measure of hair thickness, did not differ much from the start in either group ². The authors suggested the effect was most likely due to antioxidant activity reducing oxidative stress in the scalp ².

What the study does not tell us

This trial is interesting, but its limits matter:

• It was small. Fewer than 40 people took part.
• The type of hair loss was not narrowed down. The summary describes volunteers "suffering from hair loss", not a single diagnosis such as pattern hair loss. Different types of hair loss behave very differently.
• Hair thickness did not change. More hairs were counted, but strand weight stayed about the same.
• One study is not proof. Results need to be repeated by other teams in larger, well-designed trials.
• Industry involvement. One author was affiliated with a company in the supplement field. That does not make the result wrong, but independent confirmation is important.

What wider reviews say

A 2025 network meta-analysis pooled 19 randomised trials of dietary supplements in 1,658 people with pattern hair loss. Tocotrienols were among the supplements that improved hair density compared with placebo, and supplements overall were well tolerated, but the authors said large, high-quality trials are still needed ³.

A broader review of vitamins and minerals in hair loss concluded that their role is important but not entirely clear, and called for large double-blind, placebo-controlled trials ⁴. In other words, the evidence is promising in places but far from settled.

Is vitamin E safe to take?

The NHS says adults need about 4 mg of vitamin E a day for men and 3 mg for women, and that you should be able to get this from your diet ¹. It advises that if you take supplements you should not take too much, as this could be harmful, and that 540 mg (800 IU) or less a day of vitamin E supplements is unlikely to cause harm ¹. It also notes there is not enough evidence to know the effects of taking high doses every day ¹.

If you take blood thinners or other regular medicines, are pregnant, or have a health condition, ask a pharmacist or doctor before starting a supplement. See questions to ask your pharmacist.

How to use this information

• Find the cause first. Hair loss has many causes, and a supplement will not fix shedding from low iron, thyroid problems or pattern hair loss on its own. See blood tests and first steps.
• Treat a supplement as an add-on. If you decide to try tocotrienols, give it a fixed trial period and track progress with photos.
• Be wary of big claims. A single small trial does not support promises of thick, fast growth.

For other popular supplements, see saw palmetto and he shou wu.

Frequently asked questions

Does vitamin E help hair grow?

One small trial found more hairs after 8 months of tocotrienols than placebo ², but larger, high-quality trials are still needed ³.

What dose was used in the Malaysian study?

Volunteers took 100 mg of mixed tocotrienols by mouth daily for 8 months ².

Did the study show thicker hair?

No. Hair counts went up, but the weight of hair clippings did not change much ².

How much vitamin E is safe?

The NHS says 540 mg (800 IU) or less a day from supplements is unlikely to cause harm, and most people get enough from diet ¹.

Educational content. Not medical advice.