Important to Choose the Right Form of Vitamin E

Eight Forms of Vitamin E, Not Just Alpha-Tocopherol

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin. However, this is only partly true, as Vitamin E is actually a term for eight fat-soluble compounds that work in synergy with one another and are never found in isolation in nature. A good Vitamin E supplement should never be isolated but should include all eight forms:

• d-alpha-tocopherol
• d-beta-tocopherol
• d-gamma-tocopherol
• d-delta-tocopherol
• d-alpha-tocotrienol
• d-beta-tocotrienol
• d-gamma-tocotrienol
• d-delta-tocotrienol

Unfortunately, most Vitamin E supplements on the market contain only alpha-tocopherol. Some include all four tocopherols, but only a few offer all four tocopherols and all four tocotrienols.

Why Is It Important to Take More Than Just Alpha-, Beta-, Gamma-, and Delta-Tocopherol?

• A study published by Mangialasche F. and co-authors in the journal *JAMA Neurology* identified a negative correlation between Vitamin E intake and the risk of cognitive decline. The results suggest that a higher intake of Vitamin E is associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment. Interestingly, the study showed that tocotrienols, rather than tocopherols, are the key components of the Vitamin E family linked to protection against cognitive decline.

• Recent research highlights that a synergistic antioxidant effect is achieved by combining astaxanthin with tocotrienols, which cannot be achieved by combining astaxanthin with alpha-tocopherol alone. This was reported by Zhang Z. and co-authors in the journal *Antioxidants*, underscoring the potential power of specific antioxidant combinations in combating oxidative stress.

• A recent study by Pham H. and co-authors in the journal *Molecular Nutrition & Food Research* demonstrated that both tocopherols and tocotrienols from Vitamin E, particularly those found in rice bran, positively influence the activation of microglial cells. Microglial cells act as the "clean-up crew" of the central nervous system.

• Further research by Khanna S. and co-authors in the journal *Journal of Neurochemistry* revealed that α-tocotrienols, unlike α-tocopherols, exhibit protective effects against glutamate-induced damage to brain cells. This places α-tocotrienol at the forefront as the most effective form of Vitamin E for protecting brain cells.

• Research by Sen CK. and co-authors, published in the journal *Nutrition*, pointed out that a diet deficient in Vitamin E during pregnancy can significantly reduce Vitamin E levels in the fetal brain within two weeks, without affecting the mother's brain. Additionally, the study indicated that tocotrienol uptake is higher in the fetal brain than in the adult brain, highlighting the importance of adequate Vitamin E intake, including tocotrienols, during pregnancy.

• Another study, published by Khor HT. and co-authors in the journal *Atherosclerosis*, demonstrated that supplementation with gamma-tocotrienol can reduce lipid peroxidation in plasma and blood vessels, as well as enhance overall antioxidant status, including SOD activity (superoxide dismutase is a natural antioxidant in the body).

• Finally, research by Serbinova E. and co-authors in the journal *Free Radical Biology & Medicine* showed that alpha-tocotrienol has a greater antioxidant effect than alpha-tocopherol, emphasizing the potential value of tocotrienols in Vitamin E's overall antioxidant properties.

Functional Medicine Experts on Vitamin E

Pharmacist and functional medicine expert Suzy Cohen shares her thoughts on Vitamin E:

"Vitamin E is fantastic. As a fat-soluble nutrient, it nourishes fatty tissues, especially your heart, pancreas, liver, and brain. Your brain loves Vitamin E... Vitamin E is like Superman for your brain, but if you take a low-quality form of Vitamin E, it's like kryptonite! Unfortunately, there’s a lot of junk on the market containing unnecessary fillers, binders, colours, and additives. It’s also crucial which isomers your Vitamin E contains. Do you see 'dl-alpha-tocopherol' on the label? You probably do because this is what 99% of Vitamin E supplements contain. All synthetic forms of Vitamin E are marked with the dl-prefix. I wouldn’t take this even if I were paid. The bigger surprise is that nearly all Vitamin E supplements contain only one of the eight isomers. The only thing worse than taking just one of these isomers (usually alpha-tocopherol) is taking a low-quality Vitamin E. If you take only one isomer, as is often found in cheap forms of Vitamin E, you create an imbalance with the other isomers. The more alpha-tocopherol you take, the more depleted you become in beta-, delta-, and gamma-tocopherols (and all four tocotrienols)."

Suzy Cohen's text has been freely translated and summarised to fit the article.

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