The Study
Biokinetics in humans of RRR-alpha-tocopherol: the free phenol, acetate ester, and succinate ester forms of vitamin E.
This study watched how the body absorbs different kinds of vitamin E pills in a few healthy people. It found that the body takes in each kind at about the same rate compared to the others — but it didn't test if one kind makes you healthier or not.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Your body absorbs vitamin E the same way whether it's in its natural form or chemically tweaked with acetate or succinate.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 544 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — this means supplement labels claiming one form is better absorbed than another are misleading for this type of vitamin E.
- 2Peak vitamin E levels in blood happen around 12 hours, and in red blood cells at 27 hours.
- 3The amount absorbed from each form is nearly identical — ratios are about 1.0.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Free radical biology & medicine
Year
1995
Authors
K. Cheeseman, A. Holley, F. Kelly, Mohamad Wasil, L. Hughes, G. Burton
Related Content
Claims (6)
The chemical structure of nutrients in supplements determines how much of the nutrient the body can absorb and use.
In healthy adults, RRR-α-tocopherol is absorbed into the bloodstream at the same rate whether it is given as a free compound, an acetate ester, or a succinate ester, as measured by comparable plasma concentrations.
After taking RRR-α-tocopherol by mouth, the highest level in red blood cells is reached around 27 hours later. Different people reach different absolute levels, but the pattern of how much is absorbed compared to other forms remains consistent.
In healthy adults, the total amount of RRR-α-tocopherol absorbed from acetate and succinate esters is the same, but the acetate form is absorbed a little faster at the beginning.
After taking RRR-α-tocopherol orally, whether as the free phenol or acetate ester, it takes about 12 hours for the highest level to appear in the blood, showing that both forms enter the bloodstream at the same rate and are broken down similarly.
Healthy adults absorb RRR-α-tocopherol, a form of vitamin E, to very different degrees, and this variation does not change based on whether the vitamin E is given as free phenol, acetate ester, or succinate ester.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.