ABSTRACT
Vitamin E is the term used for eight naturally occurring fat-soluble nutrients called tocopherols. α-Tocopherol has the highest biological activity and predominates in many species. In humans vitamin E is the most important lipid-soluble antioxidant, and its deficiency may cause neurological dysfunction, myopathies, and diminished erythrocyte life span. α-Tocopherol interacts with lipid alkoxyl and peroxyl radicals, acting as a chain-breaking antioxidant. Concentration-dependent lipid peroxidation inhibition was found upon addition of α-tocopherol. α-Tocopherol homologs with a shorter isoprenoid side chain possess higher intramem-brane mobility and higher antioxidant activity in the lipid bilayer. Incubation of unilammelar donor liposomes prepared from microsomal lipids or from DMPC with microsomal membranes resulted in a pronounced enrichment of microsomes with 6-hydroxychromanes.
