Tocopherol

Tocopherols (/toʊˈkɒfəˌrɒl/;^[1] TCP) are a class of organic compounds comprising various methylated phenols, many of which have vitamin E activity. Because the vitamin activity was first identified in 1936 from a dietary fertility factor in rats, it was named tocopherol, from Greek τόκος tókos 'birth' and φέρειν phérein 'to bear or carry', that is 'to carry a pregnancy', with the ending -ol signifying its status as a chemical alcohol.

α-Tocopherol is the main source found in supplements and in the European diet, where the main dietary sources are olive and sunflower oils,^[2] while γ-tocopherol is the most common form in the American diet due to a higher intake of soybean and corn oil.^[2]^[3]

Tocotrienols, which are related compounds, also have vitamin E activity. All of these various derivatives with vitamin activity may correctly be referred to as "vitamin E". Tocopherols and tocotrienols are fat-soluble antioxidants but also seem to have many other functions in the body.

^ "Tocopherol". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
^ ^a ^b Wagner KH, Kamal-Eldin A, Elmadfa I (2004). "Gamma-tocopherol--an underestimated vitamin?". Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism. 48 (3): 169–88. doi:10.1159/000079555. PMID 15256801. S2CID 24827255. In North America, the intake of γ-tocopherol has been estimated to exceed that of α-tocopherol by a factor of 2–4 ... due to the fact that soybean oil is the predominant vegetable oil in the American diet (76.4%) followed by corn oil and canola oil (both 7%) ... The supply of dietary fats ... is much more diverse in Europe ... The oils mainly consumed in Europe, i.e. sunflower, olive and canola oil, provide less γ-tocopherol but more α-tocopherol ... [T]he ratio of α-:γ-tocopherol is at least 1:2. Therefore, the average γ-tocopherol intake may be estimated as 4–6 mg/day, which is about 25–35% of the USA intake. In accordance with the lower estimated European intake of γ-tocopherol, the serum levels of γ-tocopherol in European populations are 4–20 times lower than that of α-tocopherol
^ Cite error: The named reference gamma was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1] "Tocopherol". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d. Retrieved 28 February 2018.

[Wagner_et_al,_2004-2] Wagner KH, Kamal-Eldin A, Elmadfa I (2004). "Gamma-tocopherol--an underestimated vitamin?". Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism. 48 (3): 169–88. doi:10.1159/000079555. PMID 15256801. S2CID 24827255. In North America, the intake of γ-tocopherol has been estimated to exceed that of α-tocopherol by a factor of 2–4 ... due to the fact that soybean oil is the predominant vegetable oil in the American diet (76.4%) followed by corn oil and canola oil (both 7%) ... The supply of dietary fats ... is much more diverse in Europe ... The oils mainly consumed in Europe, i.e. sunflower, olive and canola oil, provide less γ-tocopherol but more α-tocopherol ... [T]he ratio of α-:γ-tocopherol is at least 1:2. Therefore, the average γ-tocopherol intake may be estimated as 4–6 mg/day, which is about 25–35% of the USA intake. In accordance with the lower estimated European intake of γ-tocopherol, the serum levels of γ-tocopherol in European populations are 4–20 times lower than that of α-tocopherol

[gamma-3] Cite error: The named reference gamma was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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