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Vitamin E Homologues: Current Evidence

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Nutritional Influences on Bone Health

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Abstract

Public health approaches to chronic disease prevention often advocates a healthy lifestyle, including a healthy dietary pattern and exercise regimen. Consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are promoted for their nutrient content and bioactive compounds such as carotenoids, polyphenols, and tocopherols. These compounds exhibit antioxidant and inflammatory properties and may therefore by beneficial to chronic diseases associated with low-grade chronic inflammation such as osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. The vitamin E homologue, α-tocopherol, has had significant interest due to its potent lipoperoxyl radical-scavenging capacity, leading to its use in food processing and supplementation. However, recent evidence has suggested that vitamin E homologues may have potentially different impact on bone indices and, though studies purport that vitamin E benefits bone through its anti-inflammatory properties, this relationship has not been shown in humans. In this chapter, we evaluate the current evidence on the two most prevalent vitamin E homologues, α- and γ-tocopherol, with bone indicators in peri-menopausal and postmenopausal women. We then present data on dietary sources of α- and γ-tocopherol in a population of postmenopausal women in northeast Scotland and examine whether there is a relationship between these homologues and four inflammatory markers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rowett Institute for Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB21 9SB, UK

    Tiffany C. Yang PhD, MPH, RD

  2. Department of Musculoskeletal Research, Health Sciences Building, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK

    Helen M. Macdonald PhD

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  1. Tiffany C. Yang PhD, MPH, RD
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  2. Helen M. Macdonald PhD
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Correspondence to Tiffany C. Yang PhD, MPH, RD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Nutrition and Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

    Connie M. Weaver

  2. Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia

    Robin M. Daly

  3. Geriatrics and Aging Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari

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Yang, T.C., Macdonald, H.M. (2016). Vitamin E Homologues: Current Evidence. In: Weaver, C., Daly, R., Bischoff-Ferrari, H. (eds) Nutritional Influences on Bone Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32417-3_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32417-3_10

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