Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Alpha-tocopherol

Alpha-tocopherol is the most biologically active form of vitamin E in humans and the principal lipid-soluble, chain-breaking antioxidant of cell membranes and lipoproteins. Chemically a chromanol bearing a saturated phytyl tail, it scavenges peroxyl radicals generated during lipid peroxidation, thereby protecting po…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 12 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 27× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2379-7835 🗓 Reviewed July 2026

Overview

Alpha-tocopherol is the most biologically active form of vitamin E in humans and the principal lipid-soluble, chain-breaking antioxidant of cell membranes and lipoproteins. Chemically a chromanol bearing a saturated phytyl tail, it scavenges peroxyl radicals generated during lipid peroxidation, thereby protecting polyunsaturated fatty acids in membranes and circulating low-density lipoproteins from oxidative damage. Among the eight naturally occurring tocopherols and tocotrienols, alpha-tocopherol is preferentially retained because the hepatic alpha-tocopherol transfer protein selectively incorporates it into very-low-density lipoproteins for distribution to tissues. Dietary sources include vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and green leafy vegetables, and frank deficiency produces peripheral neuropathy and haemolytic anaemia, reflecting the vitamin's roles in neurological integrity and erythrocyte stability. Because oxidative stress is implicated in atherosclerosis, neurodegeneration, and other chronic disease, alpha-tocopherol has been studied extensively for its capacity to modulate redox balance, though its clinical effects depend on dose, baseline status, and interaction with other antioxidants such as ascorbate and selenium. Within the broader nutritional literature, antioxidant micronutrients are examined for their roles in counteracting reactive oxygen species and supporting metabolic health. The journal publishes peer-reviewed research in nutrition, including studies of antioxidant compounds and micronutrient function.

Research published in this journal

12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

2021

How this research is being cited

The 12 articles above have been cited 27 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Alpha-tocopherol, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in International Journal of Nutrition (ISSN 2379-7835).

Journal editorial board
Kadri Koppel · United States Alicja Kuban-Jankowska · Poland Luigia Pazzagli · Italy

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.