J
j.
Guest
If one takes a vitamin E supplement that contains only alpha tocopherol, serum gamma tocopherol decreases, and that condition is associated with health problems. So it's better to take a vitamin E supplement which has all the 4 tocopherols, to not deplete the ones not included in the supplement.
What's a good ratio of alpha and gamma tocopherol in a vitamin E supplement?
People tend to naturally have a 4:1 serum ratio of alpha to gamma tocopherol, even if they consume more gamma tocopherol than alpha tocopherol in their diets. Taking a supplement of alpha tocopherol changes that ratio so that there is more than four units of alpha tocopherol per unit of gamma tocopherol.
Thus, I think a criterion to judge a mixed tocopherols vitamin E supplement, whether it's higher in alpha or gamma tocopherol, is to observe what its effects are on the serum ratio of alpha and gamma tocopherol. If the ratio is close to 4 to 1, then from the serum vitamin E perspective, it's a good supplement.
What's a good ratio of alpha and gamma tocopherol in a vitamin E supplement?
People tend to naturally have a 4:1 serum ratio of alpha to gamma tocopherol, even if they consume more gamma tocopherol than alpha tocopherol in their diets. Taking a supplement of alpha tocopherol changes that ratio so that there is more than four units of alpha tocopherol per unit of gamma tocopherol.
Thus, I think a criterion to judge a mixed tocopherols vitamin E supplement, whether it's higher in alpha or gamma tocopherol, is to observe what its effects are on the serum ratio of alpha and gamma tocopherol. If the ratio is close to 4 to 1, then from the serum vitamin E perspective, it's a good supplement.