What Is alpha-Tocopherol & What Foods Can I Find It In?

alpha-Tocopherol is one of the eight compounds that are commonly called Vitamin E.

Four tocopherols and four tocotrienols, all with distinctive antioxidant activities.

alpha-Tocopherol has the highest vitamin E activity compared to the other three tocopherols.

Tocopherols are essential for humans, but alpha-tocopherol is the only form that is recognized to meet human requirements.

alpha-Tocopherol Is Essential

Vitamin E is the most potent, fat-soluble antioxidant in human plasma.

It is an essential nutrient. (source ◳)

Vitamin E is the collective term of eight naturally occurring compounds consisting of four tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta) and four tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta). (source ◳)

alpha-Tocopherol is the most common form of vitamin E, and is found in large quantities in vegetable oils.

It is a lipid-soluble antioxidant, which means it is able to enter cells and protect them from the damaging effects of oxidation.

Benefits Of alpha-Tocopherol

alpha-Tocopherol is a natural antioxidant.

alpha-tocopherol seems to be beneficial for the prevention of neurological disorders and may be the most effective antioxidant in the brain.

It also plays a key role in the functioning of the central nervous system.

You can find researched-backed benefits of alpha-tocopherol in alpha-Tocopherol: 9 Research-Backed Benefits .

alpha-Tocopherol Deficiency

The most abundant forms of vitamin E are alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol in foods.

Dietary requirements of vitamin E are limited to alpha-tocopherol because this is the only form that reverses vitamin E deficiency. (source ◳)

The fat-soluble property of vitamins is their ability to store within the fatty tissues of the body.

It means that it does not have to be consumed every day. Vitamin E deficiency is quite rare in humans. (source ◳)

How To Get alpha-Tocopherol

The best natural sources of vitamin E are vegetable oils, nuts, and whole grains.

While foods of animal origin are generally low in vitamin E. (source ◳)

Vitamin E is much dependent on vitamin C, vitamin B3, selenium, and glutathione.

A diet high in vitamin E cannot have an optimal effect unless you also eat foods that provide these other nutrients. (source ◳)

Vitamin E fortified foods

Foods are often fortified with vitamin E.

Most commonly is alpha-tocopherol used in fortification.

Foods You Can Find alpha-Tocopherol In

You find alpha-Tocopherol mostly in fats and oils, breakfast cereal, beverages, and baby food products.

Examples of food sources include

• Wheat Germ Oil
• Ralston Enriched Wheat Bran Flakes
• Kashi Heart To Heart Honey Toasted Oat
• Slimfast Shake Mix
• Whole Wheat Cereal
• Hazelnut Oil
• All-Bran

Foods in our nutrition tool

You can find regularly updated top ranked lists of foods for over 200+ nutrients in our nutrition tool.

If you are interested in what foods contain the most alpha-Tocopherol, we recommend you visit our tool.

Here's our top ranked list of foods that contain alpha-Tocopherol.