vitaminEVIDENCEBUSOTC

Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols)

aka Tocopherols · Tocotrienols · Alpha-tocopherol

Fat-soluble antioxidant present in cell membranes. The mixed-tocopherols form (alpha, beta, gamma, delta) outperforms isolated alpha-tocopherol for most outcomes.

Dose range100–400mg

Half-life—h

Onset—min

Safety4/5high evidence base

Mechanism of action

Primary lipid-soluble antioxidant in cell membranes — terminates lipid peroxidation chain reactions by donating a hydrogen atom to lipid radicals. Eight natural forms exist (4 tocopherols, 4 tocotrienols); each has distinct activity. Gamma-tocopherol scavenges reactive nitrogen species that alpha-tocopherol misses. Cardiovascular and neuroprotective evidence is mixed for alpha-tocopherol alone; stronger for mixed forms.

History

Vitamin E was identified in 1922 by Herbert Evans as a fat-soluble factor required for rat reproduction. The cardiovascular evidence was strong in observational studies but disappointing in large RCTs (HOPE, Women's Health Study) — much of the discordance came from those trials using high-dose alpha-tocopherol only, which displaces gamma-tocopherol from tissue. Mixed tocopherol formulations (Unique E and similar) avoid this problem and have a more favourable evidence base.

Benefits

Antioxidant support
EVIDENCEA
Universally accepted.
Cardiovascular support (mixed forms)
EVIDENCEB
Devaraj 2008.
Cognitive support in older adults
EVIDENCEB
Morris 2002 dietary epidemiology.

Side effects

Increased bleeding risk (high dose)uncommonmoderate
All-cause mortality (alpha only, megadose)uncommonmoderate

Cited research

Mixed tocopherols vs alpha-tocopherol in cardiovascular biomarkers (Devaraj)2008
PMID 18460491 ↗
Vitamin E and cognitive decline (Morris)2002
PMID 11985361 ↗
All-cause mortality with high-dose vitamin E meta-analysis (Miller)2005
PMID 15537682 ↗

Where to buy

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Vendor	Product	Size	Price	Per unit
ThorneFeatured 4.6	Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols) — Thorne	—	See vendor	—	Shop Ad
Life Extension 4.3	Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols) — Life Extension	—	See vendor	—	Shop Ad
NOW Foods 4.1	Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols) — NOW Foods	—	See vendor	—	Shop Ad
Amazon Marketplace 3.5	Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols) — Amazon	—	See vendor	—	Shop Ad

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