d-Alpha-Tocopherol vs Mixed Tocopherols
How d-alpha-tocopherol and mixed tocopherols differ in potency, absorption, tolerance, and cost.
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Side by Side
| d-Alpha-Tocopherol (Natural) | Mixed Tocopherols | |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption | High | High |
| How it is absorbed | The single stereoisomer that the liver's transfer protein prefers. Esters are hydrolyzed in the gut, and absorption needs dietary fat. | Alpha plus substantial gamma- and delta-tocopherol, closer to the mix in food. The liver still retains mainly alpha. |
| Typical dose | 15-200 mg daily | Per product |
| Common uses | general supplementation, fat malabsorption | general supplementation |
| Side effects | Bleeding risk at high doses. | Bleeding risk at high doses. |
| Cost | Moderate | Moderate |
| Also called | RRR-alpha-tocopherol, d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate | natural mixed tocopherols |
| Labels in index | 658 | 316 |
When to Choose d-Alpha-Tocopherol (Natural)
Choose d-alpha-tocopherol when you need alpha-tocopherol specifically. About twice the activity of the synthetic form per milligram. The PIVENS NASH trial used 800 IU of the natural form.
d-Alpha-Tocopherol (Natural)
The form the liver keeps and the one used in the NASH trial. For prescribed use, not general prevention.
What to look for: d-alpha-tocopherol or d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, at the dose your clinician sets.
Find on iHerb Affiliate linkWhen to Choose Mixed Tocopherols
Choose mixed tocopherols when you want vitamin E closer to its form in food. Avoids the drop in gamma-tocopherol that alpha-only supplements cause. Labels should state each tocopherol.
Mixed Tocopherols
Closer to vitamin E as it occurs in food, and avoids lowering gamma-tocopherol.
What to look for: Each tocopherol listed with its amount; alpha-tocopherol near the RDA.
Find on iHerb Affiliate linkProducts on Titrate
In Titrate's index of NIH label data, 658 labels named as vitamin E products list d-alpha-tocopherol and 316 list mixed tocopherols.
Vitamin E does not have its own search category yet. Each product above links to its full label in the NIH database.
Related
References
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin E: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.
The Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta Carotene Cancer Prevention Study Group. The effect of vitamin E and beta carotene on the incidence of lung cancer and other cancers in male smokers. N Engl J Med. 1994;330(15):1029-1035.
Huang HY, Appel LJ. Supplementation of diets with alpha-tocopherol reduces serum concentrations of gamma- and delta-tocopherol in humans. J Nutr. 2003;133(10):3137-3140.
Miller ER 3rd, Pastor-Barriuso R, Dalal D, Riemersma RA, Appel LJ, Guallar E. Meta-analysis: high-dosage vitamin E supplementation may increase all-cause mortality. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142(1):37-46.
Lonn E, Bosch J, Yusuf S, et al. Effects of long-term vitamin E supplementation on cardiovascular events and cancer: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2005;293(11):1338-1347.
Sesso HD, Buring JE, Christen WG, et al. Vitamins E and C in the prevention of cardiovascular disease in men: the Physicians' Health Study II randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2008;300(18):2123-2133.
Sanyal AJ, Chalasani N, Kowdley KV, et al. Pioglitazone, vitamin E, or placebo for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. N Engl J Med. 2010;362(18):1675-1685.
Klein EA, Thompson IM Jr, Tangen CM, et al. Vitamin E and the risk of prostate cancer: the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT). JAMA. 2011;306(14):1549-1556.