Vitamin E consists of four tocopherols and four tocotrienols that demonstrate important and far reaching biological activities. These essential lipids contain a common chromanol ring and either a saturated (tocopherol) or unsaturated (tocotrienol) side chain. The eight common vitamin E isoforms (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-tocopherols and alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-tocotrienols) are differentiated based on the number and position of methyl groups on the chromanol ring and the presence of a saturated or unsaturated side chain. The vitamin E vitamers are commonly found in vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, grains and oils, where they exist in various ratios with each other. The unsaturated side chain in tocotrienols gives them physical properties different from tocopherols, such as an increased ability to cross the cell membrane bilayer (1). Vitamin E has become well known for its role as an antioxidant, in lowering cholesterol and other lipids, as a neuroprotective and anticancer agent, and in cardiovascular disease protection. Most vitamin E supplements contain (and many studies use) only alpha-tocopherol; However, several of the above biological effects are mostly or exclusively found in the other vitamers, making it critical for them to be included in future research. Indeed, the tocotrienols in general may have greater physiological functions than tocopherols (2) and may even be inhibited by an unbalanced excess of alpha-tocopherol supplements (3). Matreya is pleased to offer this highly purified gamma-tocotrienol standard for your research needs.
