| Most vitamin E supplements contain synthetic | | | | important benefits. Supplementing with mixed |
| alpha-tocopherol, but unlike some other vitamins, | | | | tocopherols should derive the benefits of both |
| synthetic vitamin E is not identical to natural. Vitamin E | | | | alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol, without |
| supplements are labelled d-alpha for natural and | | | | creating an imbalance in these two forms of vitamin E. |
| dl-alpha for synthetic. If the label lists | | | | Supplements containing this wide variety of vitamin E |
| "dl-alpha-tocopherol", it's not the real thing. | | | | forms are usually referred to as "mixed tocopherol" or |
| This is most clearly shown by comparing natural with | | | | "mixed tocotrienol" supplements. |
| synthetic vitamin E. Both have identical antioxidant | | | | High doses of alpha-tocopherol have been shown to |
| activities, yet the natural vitamin E has roughly twice | | | | deplete gamma-tocopherol. |
| the availability of synthetic vitamin E. (The American | | | | Remember to take your vitamin E with some sort of |
| Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1998 Apr;67(4):669-84). | | | | fat or oil for better absorption as it is a fat soluble |
| Japanese researchers found that natural vitamin E at | | | | vitamin. |
| 100 mg per day was not different from that of 300 | | | | "According to [Maret] Traber and [Scott] Leonard, this |
| mg per day of synthetic vitamin E in seven normal, | | | | indicates that people who are taking vitamin E |
| healthy women aged 21-37 years. (Am J Clin Nutr. | | | | supplements only with liquids on an empty stomach |
| 1997 Mar;65(3):785-9). | | | | are accomplishing nothing and getting few if any |
| It is important to know that there are several types of | | | | benefits from the supplements. The vitamin clearly is |
| Vitamin E. Vitamin E is actually a generic name for | | | | absorbed better if it is part of, or closely associated |
| eight separate compounds. Some members of the | | | | with the digestion of a food that has some fat in it." |
| vitamin E family are called tocopherols. These | | | | (David Stauth, Oregon State University, The Linus |
| members include alpha tocopherol, beta tocopherol, | | | | Pauling Institute 15/1/2004). |
| gamma tocopherol, and delta tocopherol. Other | | | | You can get the best forms of vitamin E through your |
| members of the vitamin E family are called | | | | food. Fruits, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, olive |
| tocotrienols. These members include alpha, beta, | | | | oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, oily fish (salmon, mackerel |
| gamma, and delta tocotrienol. Both groups all blended | | | | and sardines), eggs, natural organ meats and nuts are |
| together in plants and animals, which is why the best | | | | good sources of vitamin E. Most of these foods give |
| form of vitamin E comes from your food. | | | | you the entire vitamin E family. |
| Nearly all of the clinical research on vitamin E has used | | | | References: |
| alpha-tocopherol. Gamma-tocopherol concentrations in | | | | Burton GW, Traber MG, Acuff RV, Walters DN, |
| the blood have been reported to be significantly lower | | | | Kayden H, Hughes L, Ingold KU. Human plasma and |
| in coronary heart disease patients compared to | | | | tissue alpha-tocopherol concentrations in response to |
| healthy subjects, suggesting that the low | | | | supplementation with deuterated natural and synthetic |
| gamma-tocopherol concentrations increased the risk | | | | vitamin E. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998 Apr;67(4):669-84. |
| of coronary heart disease. Gamma-tocopherol has | | | | Kiyose C, Muramatsu R, Kameyama Y, Ueda T, |
| also been shown be important in the vitamin E | | | | Igarashi O. Biodiscrimination of alpha-tocopherol |
| protective association with alzheimer's disease and | | | | stereoisomers in humans after oral administration. Am |
| prostate cancer. | | | | J Clin Nutr. 1997 Mar;65(3):785-9. |
| Alpha-tocopherols are the most widely used, but | | | | PMID: 9062530. |
| gamma, beta and delta tocopherols also offer | | | | |