PLASMA ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL CONCENTRATIONS AFTER SUPPLEMENTATION WITH WATER-SOLUBLE AND FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMIN-E

The objective of this study was to examine differences in plasma alpha -tocopherol concentrations after oral administration of pharmacologic doses of vitamin E to normal healthy subjects as RRR-alpha-tocopheryl glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS; water-miscible form) and RRR-alpha-tocoph eryl acetate (TA; fat-soluble form). The study was designed to evaluat e the administration of three different single doses and multiple dose s for 4 wk with both preparations. Administration of 400 IU (269 mg), 800 nr (537 mg), and 1200 IU (807 mg) TPGS as a single dose resulted i n slight elevation of plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations. Administ ration of multiple daily doses at all three amounts of TPGS for 28 con secutive days resulted in a slight elevation of plasma alpha-tocophero l concentrations. A significant increase in plasma alpha-tocopherol co ncentrations was observed after ingestion of a single dose or equivale nt multiple doses of TA at all three doses. As reported in the Literat ure, in cases of cholestasis and other forms of lipid malabsorption, o ral administration of TPGS is the treatment of choice. It appears that for normal adults and patients with normal lipid absorption, fat-solu ble forms of vitamin E are preferable for therapeutic and prophylactic uses.