Vitamin E & tocotrienols

Vitamin E is not one substance but eight: four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. What a product contains is in the ingredient list and varies more than the front of the pack suggests. ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL is the most common form in supplements and the one doses usually refer to. It comes as natural (d-alpha) and synthetic (dl-alpha); the natural form costs more and is labelled as such. MIXED TOCOPHEROLS also contain beta, gamma and delta. They are listed as "mixed tocopherols" in the ingredient list. TOCOTRIENOLS are the other half of the family and are sold as separate, more expensive products, often derived from annatto seed or rice bran. THE FORMAT. Oil-filled softgels dominate, since vitamin E is fat-soluble. DOSAGE is stated on the pack and should be followed. THE BRANDS. NOW Foods has the widest selection, Life Extension the tocotrienols, Swanson the best-value capsules.