Choose “mixed tocopherols” for natural vitamin E that is easily absorbed by the body. Synthetic forms are cheaper but less effective. Most people don’t get enough vitamin E from food and supplements may be needed. Alpha-tocopherol is the most studied form, but gamma-tocopherol may also be important. Look for certified organic tocopherol oil to avoid genetically modified soybean oil.
Medical opinions may vary, but perhaps the best way to choose tocopherol oil is to buy one labeled “mixed tocopherols.” This ensures that the vitamin E contained in the tocopherol oil supplement is a natural form that is more easily absorbed by the body. This form contains d-alpha-tocopherol instead of the synthetically produced d-alpha-tocopherol. While synthetic tocopherol oil is less expensive, research suggests it may not be absorbed and used by the body as easily as naturally occurring mixed tocopherols.
In food sources, vitamin E is present in the oils of nuts and seeds, some vegetables, and wheat germ. Many medical professionals agree that most people do not meet their vitamin E requirements in the foods they eat and that supplements may be needed. As a fat-soluble antioxidant, daily value levels for vitamin E have been established at 30 IU (international units).
Vitamin E occurs in two forms of a fat-soluble compound, tocopherols and tocotrienols. Each of these occurs in alpha, beta, gamma, and delta forms, meaning there are eight forms of vitamin E. The body is more abundant in alpha-tocopherol and better absorbs it.
Although there are other types of vitamin E in the body, alpha-tocopherol has been the most studied and is the form found in many supplements. Some research may suggest that gamma-tocopherol has an important function in the body and could be a useful ingredient in tocopherol oil supplements. Many medical professionals recommend supplementing with a tocopherol oil that contains more than just alpha-tocopherol oil and is labeled “mixed tocopherols.” Some supplements contain not only tocopherols, but also tocotrienols. Unfortunately, these are the most expensive vitamin E tocopherol oil supplements.
Many doctors believe that the synthetic form of vitamin E is inferior and cannot be used very well by the body. By some estimates, it may be necessary to take 50 percent more of the synthetic form of vitamin E to equal the bioavailability of the natural form. Synthetic vitamin E may be responsible for some research studies discounting the value of vitamin E supplements in preventing disease. Vitamin E from synthetic tocopherol oil is the most common form of vitamin E in supplements and mutlivitamins because it is the least expensive to produce.
Another concern for some people is the soybean oil contained in the tocopherol oil. Most soybean crops are grown with genetically modified seeds. If this concerns you, it’s best to buy certified organic tocopherol oil. By law, certified organic products may not contain genetically modified ingredients and are the only foolproof method of determining if a product contains genetically modified ingredients.
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