Dr Traj Nibber, CEO and Director of Research at AOR has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the field of nutritional science and supplementation. We have asked him for his expert opinion on a number of nutrients, to feature in our blog. We hope you enjoy these insights and overviews of some key nutrients.
In this blog he explains that vitamin E is much more than d-alpha tocopherol.
Until 1999, one hundred percent of vitamin E sold was in the form of d-alpha tocopherol in health food stores, or dl-alpha tocopherol the synthetic version in pharmacies. However, vitamin E is not a single molecule, it isn’t d-alpha tocopherol rather it is a mixture of eight individual molecules or isomers. There are four tocopherols isomers (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta) and four tocotrienols equivalents – alpha, beta, gamma, and delta.
Vitamin E is not one single molecule (or isomer), in nature you find a balance of 8 tocopherols and tocotrienols.
Tocopherol and tocotrienols are very similar in chemical structure and can be considered as first cousins. Each of these isomers has its own unique biological function and health benefits. Using just one isomer as in d-alpha tocopherol you will greatly miss the benefits of the other seven isomers. For example, different tocopherols are helpful for various hormonal health like breast and uterine health as well as for heart health. Tocotrienols are more helpful for cholesterol as well as for cognitive health, bone and liver health and much more.
A good supplement will provide not only tocopherols and tocotrienols, they will also appear in the right proportions.
In 1999, AOR first introduced all eight isomers in one formulation called Total E. Just having all eight isomers isn’t enough, one must have all these isomers in the right proportions as well. Indeed, tocotrienols have been studied in over twenty-six human clinical studies from bone, heart, cognitive, liver, immunity, cholesterol, and other health conditions.
In summary, vitamin E isn’t a soloist, rather it is an orchestra that must be balanced in the right proportions of tocopherols and tocotrienols to get the ultimate health benefits as Total E provides.
