Vitamin E can be divided into natural and synthetic vitamin E. Natural vitamin E has 8 structures, namely α, β, γ, δ tocopherol and α, β, γ, δ tocotrienols. The biological activity of natural vitamin E is higher than that of artificial synthesis, and the most active is natural D-α-tocopherol.
Source of Vitamin E
Natural vitamin E is widely distributed in plant tissues, especially in nuts, vegetable oils and vegetables. Tocopherols are usually much higher in vegetable oils than tocotrienols (except coconut oil). Wheat germ oil has the highest vitamin E content and a high content of α-tocopherol. The content of tocopherol in corn oil and soybean oil is second only to that of wheat germ oil, and the content of γ-tocopherol in these two oils is higher.
Bioactivity of Vitamin E
The structure-activity relationship study of vitamin E shows that the hydroxyl group in the molecule is the active group and must be in para position with the heterocyclic ring atom. The more methyl groups on the benzene ring, the stronger the activity, shortening or removing the side chain in the molecule reduces or disappears the activity. The three-dimensional structure of vitamin E also has an effect on the activity. And the activity of D-alpha Tocopherol is the strongest.
Antioxidant Properties of Vitamin E
Vitamin E can be used as an antioxidant for oil and is a natural and beneficial antioxidant product for the human body.
Free radicals play an important role in the normal physiological metabolism of the human body. Because tocopherol has an active hydroxyl group on the benzene ring, it has reducibility and can provide a single electron. When free radicals enter the lipid phase and undergo a chain reaction, tocopherol can capture free radicals, thereby blocking the chain reaction of free radicals and protecting the body from oxidation.
The antioxidant properties of various vitamin E are opposite to the strength of physiological activity. The antioxidant properties from strong to weak are: δ-tocopherol>γ-tocopherol>β-tocopherol>α-tocopherol. Tocotrienols are larger than the corresponding tocopherols.