d-Alpha-Tocopherol vs Tocotrienols
How d-alpha-tocopherol and tocotrienols differ in potency, absorption, tolerance, and cost.
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Side by Side
| d-Alpha-Tocopherol (Natural) | Tocotrienols | |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption | High | Low |
| 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. | Unsaturated side chain; poorly retained in plasma because the transfer protein favors alpha-tocopherol. |
| Typical dose | 15-200 mg daily | Per product |
| Common uses | general supplementation, fat malabsorption | marketed for heart and brain health |
| Side effects | Bleeding risk at high doses. | Few reported. |
| Cost | Moderate | High |
| Also called | RRR-alpha-tocopherol, d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate | palm tocotrienols, annatto tocotrienols |
| Labels in index | 658 | 190 |
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 Tocotrienols
There is rarely a reason to choose tocotrienols. Mostly from palm or annatto. Human outcome data are minimal.
Tocotrienols
There is rarely a reason to choose tocotrienols.
What to look for: Tocotrienols named on the Supplement Facts panel, with the amount per serving stated.
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 190 list tocotrienols.
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.