Absorption, transport, and tissue delivery of vitamin E

Mol Aspects Med. 2007 Oct-Dec;28(5-6):423-36. doi: 10.1016/j.mam.2007.01.002. Epub 2007 Jan 11.

Abstract

Vitamin E is one of the most abundant lipid-soluble antioxidant agents found in plasma and cells of higher mammals. The uptake, transport and tissue delivery of alpha-tocopherol, a key vitamin E form, involves molecular, biochemical, and cellular processes closely related to overall lipid and lipoprotein homeostasis. This review highlights recent findings that have led to a better understanding of vitamin E transport, including intestinal absorption, hepatic transport, and cellular uptake of alpha-tocopherol in vivo. This new information may be critical for manipulation of vitamin E homeostasis in a variety of oxidative stress-related disease conditions in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Transport
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Absorption / physiology*
  • Lipoproteins / blood
  • Receptors, Lipoprotein / metabolism
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Vitamin E / metabolism*

Substances

  • Lipoproteins
  • Receptors, Lipoprotein
  • Vitamin E