Alpha-tocopherol supplements and gamma-tocopherol levels
What it found
Taking extra alpha-tocopherol in supplements lowers the amount of gamma-tocopherol in the blood.
This matters because gamma-tocopherol is the main form of vitamin E in the US diet.
What they found
Studies in people
Supplement effect on blood levels
Taking excess alpha-tocopherol in supplements causes a reduction of gamma-tocopherol concentration in plasma.
Other findings
Forms of vitamin E
Alpha-tocopherol is the only form of vitamin E found in vitamin supplements. Gamma-tocopherol is the predominant form of vitamin E in the US diet.
Gamma-tocopherol's properties
Gamma-tocopherol has beneficial properties as an anti-inflammatory and possibly anti-atherogenic and anticancer agent.
Mechanism explained
The biochemical mechanism of this effect, which is important to human nutrition, has recently been elucidated.
What the authors conclude
“Excess a-tocopherol taken in supplements causes a reduction of gamma-tocopherol concentration in plasma.”
Also in their conclusions
- They state that excess alpha-tocopherol taken in supplements causes a reduction of gamma-tocopherol concentration in plasma.
- They note that this effect is important to human nutrition.
How it was done
Alpha-tocopherol is the only form of vitamin E in supplements, while gamma-tocopherol is the main form in the US diet. Gamma-tocopherol has beneficial properties as an anti-inflammatory and possibly anti-atherogenic and anticancer agent.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This is a review of existing findings, so it does not present new measurements from a single study.
- It cannot show how much alpha-tocopherol, or for how long, is needed to lower gamma-tocopherol in any one person.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of California, USA
The paper
- Title
- How an increased intake of alpha-tocopherol can suppress the bioavailability of gamma-tocopherol
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Wolf G (2006). How an increased intake of alpha-tocopherol can suppress the bioavailability of gamma-tocopherol. Nutrition reviews. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2006.tb00213.xPubMed 16808116DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error