Gamma Tocopherol

DESCRIPTION/FUNCTION

• The vitamin E family contains eight members, in two groups: tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta) and tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta). Higher amounts of gamma tocopherol are present in unfortified food than alpha tocopherol.

DRI (RDA or AI for adults)

• None.

MAJOR SOURCES

• Vegetable oils (soy, corn, canola, sesame) and nuts (pistachio, pecan).

MAINTENANCE/THERAPEUTIC RANGE

• 100 mg to 400 mg.

POSSIBLE THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS

• Cancer (colon, prostate)
• Coronary heart disease
• Inflammation

COMMENTS

• There is concern over using alpha-only supplements because the alpha form is preferentially absorbed over the other tocopherols. High amounts of alpha-tocopherol (400 IU/d) can reduce levels of gamma- and delta-tocopherols. This may be the reason for disappointing results in some studies using only alpha-tocopherol; subjects weren’t getting full benefit because their levels of gamma- and delta-tocopherols were lowered. This may account for the disparity between epidemiological studies of diets high in tocopherols versus studies using alpha-only supplements. Alpha-Tocopherol is a more potent lipophilic chain-breaking antioxidant, but gamma-tocopherol is better at neutralizing reactive nitrogen oxide species (RNOS). Excess RNOS (e.g., peroxynitrite and nitrogen dioxide) is associated with chronic inflammation-related diseases, including cancer and atherosclerosis.

CAUTIONS

• Consult with your health practitioner if you are taking a blood thinning drug.