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9.2: Vitamin E

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    1120
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    There are 8 different forms of vitamin E: 4 tocopherols and 4 tocotrienols. The difference between tocopherols and tocotrienols is that the former have a saturated tail, while the latter have an unsaturated tail. Within tocopherols and tocotrienols, the difference between the different forms is the position of the methyl groups on the ring. The 4 different forms within the tocopherol and tocotrienols are designated by the Greek letters: alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. The difference in these structures is shown in the figures below.

    Figure 9.21.png

    Figure 9.21 Structures of the different forms of vitamin E

    Figure 9.22 .png

    Figure 9.22 Structures of different forms of vitamin E1

    For reasons that will be covered in a later subsection, the primary form of vitamin E found in the body is alpha-tocopherol. The major, and possibly only, the function of vitamin E is as an antioxidant. When it serves as an antioxidant it forms an alpha-tocopherol radical, as shown below.

    Figure 9.23 .png

    Figure 9.23 Alpha-tocopherol radical2

    Alpha-tocopherol is believed to be the first part of an antioxidant network (shown below) where it is oxidized to donate an electron to stabilize reactive oxygen species. Alpha-tocopherol radical can then be reduced by the donation of an electron from ascorbate.

    Figure 9.24.png

    Figure 9.24 The theorized antioxidant network3

    To help protect the antioxidant function of alpha-tocopherol (by preventing the formation of alpha-tocopherol radical) in foods and during digestion, some manufacturers have added compounds to this site of alpha-tocopherol through ester bonds. These are referred to as alpha-tocopherol derivatives or alpha-tocopherol esters. The most common forms are alpha-tocopherol acetate, alpha-tocopherol succinate, and alpha-tocopherol phosphate (Ester-E®). The figures below show the structure of alpha-tocopherol acetate, and the structure of succinic acid.

    Figure 9.25.png

    Figure 9.25 Alpha-tocopherol acetate

    Figure 9.26.png

    Figure 9.26 Succinic acid4

    Alpha-tocopherol derivatives, such as acetate in alpha-tocopherol acetate, are cleaved prior to absorption in the small intestine by esterases, meaning that alpha-tocopherol is absorbed, not the alpha-tocopherol derivative.

    References & Links

    1. en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VitE.png
    2. en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Radica.../File:VitE.gif
    3. Packer L, Weber SU, Rimbach G. (2001) Molecular aspects of alpha-tocotrienol antioxidant action and cell signalling. J Nutr 131(2): 369S-373S
    4. en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Be...%C3%A4ure2.svg

    This page titled 9.2: Vitamin E is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Brian Lindshield via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.

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