Non-nutritive bioactive food constituents of plants: tocopherols (vitamin E).

Abstract

An increasing body of data, especially the in vitro and cell culture studies support protecting effects of tocopherols. They indicate that there is a selective tocopherol transport in the human liver with a higher affinity for alpha-tocopherol, however, they also show that in food, gamma- and delta-tocopherol are a more potent antioxidant than alpha-tocopherol. Tocopherols as a group are the key antioxidants in human cell membranes and are also important in protecting the LDL particles. These LDL particles and other similar intermediate markers of oxidative stress show a good response to tocopherol intakes. Published data underline the role of tocopherols as protecting agents against oxidative stress. They therefore allow the assumption that alpha-tocopherol is probably effective in preventing atherosclerosis, although no proven direct relation to the outcome of the disease itself exists.

• Authors: Ibrahim Elmadfa, Karl-Heinz Wagner
• Journal: International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition (Int J Vitam Nutr Res) Vol. 73 Issue 2 Pg. 89-94 (Mar 2003) ISSN: 0300-9831 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 12747215 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Lipoproteins, LDL
• Vitamin E
• gamma-Tocopherol
• alpha-Tocopherol
• Tocopherols

Topics

• Animals
• Antioxidants (pharmacology)
• Biological Availability
• Humans
• Lipoproteins, LDL
• Plants, Edible (chemistry)
• Tocopherols (pharmacokinetics, pharmacology)
• Vitamin E (physiology)
• alpha-Tocopherol (pharmacology)
• gamma-Tocopherol (pharmacology)