Tocotrienols are an important form of vitamin E that may have certain health effects that differ from the other main form of vitamin E, the tocopherols. However, in order for tocotrienols to be effective and beneficial for the health, it is likely that they will need to be absorbed and distributed to the tissues. One limiting factor for the absorption of tocotrienols is the ability of them to be transferred to the liver for package into lipoproteins for distribution to the dissues. However, alpha tocopherol is preferentially transported to the liver and so very high concentrations of alpha tocopherol in the diet can inhibit the transfer, and thus the tissue distribution of other forms of vitamin E. Further as tocotrienols are fat soluble, their absorption may improve when they are administered with lipids, as these help to enhance the uptake of fatty substances from the gut to the circulation. Maintaining a balance of vitamin E forms and eating vitamin E with fatty foods may therefore significantly improve vitamin E status.
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