Vitamin E regulation

Purpose of review Vitamin E deficiency in humans has lead to the discovery of A regulatory mechanisms that control plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations and prevent the accumulation of other molecules with vitamin E-antioxidant activity, such as, gamma-tocopherol. This review describes these regulatory mechanisms. Recent findings alpha-tocopherol regulatory proteins, have been, cloned and crystallized and their mechanisms' of action are under intense scrutiny. Studies of vitamin E, metabolism suggest that xenobiotic metabolism may not,only regulate vitamin E concentrations, but that vitamin.,E,may regulate xenobiotic clearance pathways. Summary Advances in our understanding of vitamin E nutrition suggest that vitamin E is a potent molecule that is closely regulated such that alpha-tocopherol is at the appropriate tissue concentrations necessary for some as yet to be described functions.