Types of Vitamin E
The term "vitamin E" refers to a group of eight different compounds, including alpha, beta, delta and gamma tocopherol, as well as alpha, beta, delta and gamma tocotrienol. Alpha tocopherol has the highest measurable amount of biological activity in your body and has the highest concentrations in your blood, says the Office of Dietary Supplements. Since alpha tocopherol is so prevalent in the human body it is the only one acknowledged to meet the Recommended Dietary Allowance, or RDA of vitamin E. Tocopheryl acetate is the ester form of tocopherol, meaning it has an alcohol in the structure. Alpha tocopheryl acetate has equivalent bioavailability to alpha tocopherol.
Is D-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate a Natural Form of Vitamin E?
Vitamin E is an important vitamin that has antioxidant properties in your body. It helps protect cells by fighting off highly reactive free radicals. While this fat soluble vitamin has an array of functions, certain types have more biological activity in your body than others. Alpha-tocopherol is a natural form of the vitamin and is the only form of vitamin E stored in your body with the help of the alpha-tocopherol transfer protein in your liver, according to Maret G. Traber, Ph.D., Professor of Nutrition with Linus Pauling Institute.
Natural vs. Synthetic
Natural vitamin E has only one isomer, which is a compound that has the same chemical makeup of vitamin E, but different structure. Synthetic vitamin E is esterified to form eight isomers, only one of which has the identical chemical makeup of natural vitamin E. The remaining seven isomers have limited bioactivity in your body and have about half the function of natural vitamin E. In supplements and fortified foods, natural vitamin E has a "d" or "RRR" before the compound name, such as "d-alpha tocopherol" or "d-alpha tocopheryl acetate". Synthetic forms of the nutrient have "dl" or "all-rac" in front of the name, like “dl-alpha-tocopherol".
Functions
Vitamin E provides protection against free radicals, molecules that can damage cells, including brain cells, tissues and organs. According to MedlinePlus, vitamin E supports the immune system, which fights attacks from viruses and bacteria, it aids in red blood cell production and helps your body use vitamin K. On their websites, NYU Langone Medical Center, Harvard School of Public Health and University of Maryland Medical Center review the results of numerous vitamin E studies which failed to prove any benefit for heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, dementia, age-related macular degeneration and many other diseases and health problems. Many of the remaining studies were inconclusive.
Absorption
Taking vitamin E on an empty stomach limits its ability to be absorbed. Take your supplements at the same time everyday to help you remember. Since you have to take this supplement with food, swallowing a pill everyday with a meal can help you get into a routine. Your body can only absorb so much vitamin E at once. Split up your doses into two or three servings; take one vitamin pill with breakfast and one with dinner.
References:
Linus Pauling Institute: Which Form of Vitamin E, Alpha- or Gamma-Tocopherol, Is Better?
Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin E
MedlinePlus: Vitamin E
NYU Langone Medical Center: Vitamin E
Harvard School of Public Health: Vitamin E and Health
University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin E
Courtesy of Livestrong.com
The term "vitamin E" refers to a group of eight different compounds, including alpha, beta, delta and gamma tocopherol, as well as alpha, beta, delta and gamma tocotrienol. Alpha tocopherol has the highest measurable amount of biological activity in your body and has the highest concentrations in your blood, says the Office of Dietary Supplements. Since alpha tocopherol is so prevalent in the human body it is the only one acknowledged to meet the Recommended Dietary Allowance, or RDA of vitamin E. Tocopheryl acetate is the ester form of tocopherol, meaning it has an alcohol in the structure. Alpha tocopheryl acetate has equivalent bioavailability to alpha tocopherol.
Is D-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate a Natural Form of Vitamin E?
Vitamin E is an important vitamin that has antioxidant properties in your body. It helps protect cells by fighting off highly reactive free radicals. While this fat soluble vitamin has an array of functions, certain types have more biological activity in your body than others. Alpha-tocopherol is a natural form of the vitamin and is the only form of vitamin E stored in your body with the help of the alpha-tocopherol transfer protein in your liver, according to Maret G. Traber, Ph.D., Professor of Nutrition with Linus Pauling Institute.
Natural vs. Synthetic
Natural vitamin E has only one isomer, which is a compound that has the same chemical makeup of vitamin E, but different structure. Synthetic vitamin E is esterified to form eight isomers, only one of which has the identical chemical makeup of natural vitamin E. The remaining seven isomers have limited bioactivity in your body and have about half the function of natural vitamin E. In supplements and fortified foods, natural vitamin E has a "d" or "RRR" before the compound name, such as "d-alpha tocopherol" or "d-alpha tocopheryl acetate". Synthetic forms of the nutrient have "dl" or "all-rac" in front of the name, like “dl-alpha-tocopherol".
Functions
Vitamin E provides protection against free radicals, molecules that can damage cells, including brain cells, tissues and organs. According to MedlinePlus, vitamin E supports the immune system, which fights attacks from viruses and bacteria, it aids in red blood cell production and helps your body use vitamin K. On their websites, NYU Langone Medical Center, Harvard School of Public Health and University of Maryland Medical Center review the results of numerous vitamin E studies which failed to prove any benefit for heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, dementia, age-related macular degeneration and many other diseases and health problems. Many of the remaining studies were inconclusive.
Absorption
Taking vitamin E on an empty stomach limits its ability to be absorbed. Take your supplements at the same time everyday to help you remember. Since you have to take this supplement with food, swallowing a pill everyday with a meal can help you get into a routine. Your body can only absorb so much vitamin E at once. Split up your doses into two or three servings; take one vitamin pill with breakfast and one with dinner.
References:
Linus Pauling Institute: Which Form of Vitamin E, Alpha- or Gamma-Tocopherol, Is Better?
Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin E
MedlinePlus: Vitamin E
NYU Langone Medical Center: Vitamin E
Harvard School of Public Health: Vitamin E and Health
University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin E
Courtesy of Livestrong.com