CHAPTER 1. Vitamin E: Structure, Properties and Functions

Abstract

Vitamin E is the collective name for lipophilic, naturally occurring compounds whose molecular structure is comprised of a chromanol ring with a side chain located at the C2 position and includes four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. Vitamin E, discovered as a dietary factor essential for normal reproduction, is now accepted as a major free radical scavenging antioxidant in humans and protects biological molecules from detrimental oxidative modifications. The structures and properties of vitamin E homologues and their sources, functions, and applications are summarized.