There is recurring use of the term “vitamin T” in complementary and community practice circles, often in connection with sesame-derived foods (tahini, sesame oil, black sesame) and claims of thrombopoietic effects, particularly in viral thrombocytopenia (e.g., dengue). To my knowledge, no recognized human vitamin “T” exists in nutrition science. The putative actives in sesame include lignans (sesamin, sesamolin, sesamol), gamma-tocopherol, phytosterols, and minor phenolics-none formally classified as vitamins.
Key questions for the group:
Identity and nomenclature: What is the historical origin of “vitamin T” in this context? Is any specific molecule being referenced, or is the term a catch-all for sesame lignans or other sesame constituents? Has anyone seen a standardized chemical definition or monograph for “vitamin T” used in clinical or pharmacognosy literature?
Clinical evidence: Are there peer-reviewed trials or well-documented case series evaluating sesame seed, tahini, or lignan-standardized extracts for increasing platelet counts in:
- Dengue-associated thrombocytopenia
- Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)
- Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia
- Post-viral or idiopathic thrombocytopenia
If so, please share study design, control comparators, magnitude and time course of platelet changes, and safety outcomes.
Mechanistic plausibility: Do any sesame constituents modulate pathways relevant to megakaryopoiesis or thrombopoietin signaling (e.g., c-Mpl/JAK-STAT, GATA1), or primarily affect platelet function (aggregation/activation) rather than count? Notably, some plant lignans and phenolics demonstrate antiplatelet activity in vitro; clarifying whether sesame compounds are thrombopoietic vs antiplatelet is critical. Any data on enterolignan metabolites (enterodiol, enterolactone) and platelet biology would be helpful.
Preparation and dosing variables: If benefits have been observed, which form matters most-whole seeds, hulled vs unhulled, raw vs roasted, tahini (aqueous lipid matrix), cold-pressed oil (lignan-rich vs refined), or ethanol/aqueous extracts standardized to sesamin/sesamolin content? What dosing ranges and duration have been used, and are there known responders/non-responders?
Assessment endpoints: Beyond platelet count, which biomarkers help distinguish production vs destruction/consumption effects?
- Immature platelet fraction (IPF), mean platelet volume (MPV)
- Thrombopoietin levels
- Inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6), endothelial injury markers
- Coagulation metrics (TEG/ROTEM) to detect pro- or anti-aggregatory shifts
Any shared protocols for home or clinic-based monitoring would be useful.
Safety and interactions: Practical considerations include sesame allergy prevalence, potential effects on platelet function (bleeding risk vs thrombosis risk), interactions with antiplatelets/anticoagulants, and hepatic enzyme modulation by lignans. Any documented adverse events in thrombocytopenic populations?
Comparative context: For communities using papaya leaf extract for dengue-related thrombocytopenia, has anyone compared sesame-based interventions head-to-head or in combination, and can you speak to confounders (natural platelet recovery trajectories, hydration, concurrent therapies)?
Quality control: Are there available products with validated lignan content and contaminant testing (e.g., HPLC-verified sesamin/sesamolin levels, absence of aflatoxins/heavy metals)? Methodological details on extraction and standardization would support more reliable evaluation.
Given the widespread informal promotion of “vitamin T” for platelets, it would be valuable to either anchor the term to a defined bioactive with plausible mechanisms and preliminary evidence, or retire it to avoid conflation with recognized vitamins. Looking for rigorously collected clinical observations, lab data, or mechanistic studies that can clarify whether this is a viable adjunct worth formal investigation, or a misnomer without supportive evidence.