Vitamin E Family

FYI: Over 99% of Multi-Vitamins contain only one out of 8 forms that make up nature's vitamin E family. 

Here is what the NIH's ODS (Office of Dietary Supplements) has to say to Health Professionals about Vitamin E:

 “Vitamin E” is the collective name for a group of fat-soluble compounds with distinctive antioxidant activities [1].

Naturally occurring vitamin E exists in eight chemical forms (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-tocopherol and alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-tocotrienol) that have varying levels of biological activity [1]. Alpha- (or α-) tocopherol is the only form that is recognized to meet human requirements.*  (Read on to discover why this is short-sighted)

Serum concentrations of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) depend on the liver, which takes up the nutrient after the various forms are absorbed from the small intestine. The liver preferentially resecretes only alpha-tocopherol via the hepatic alpha-tocopherol transfer protein [1]; the liver metabolizes and excretes the other vitamin E forms [2]. As a result, blood and cellular concentrations of other forms of vitamin E are lower than those of alpha-tocopherol and have been the subjects of less research [3,4]"

Contrast the preceding to the NIH's Vitamin E fact sheet for Consumers below:  

"Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient found in many foods. In the body, it acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are compounds formed when our bodies convert the food we eat into energy. People are also exposed to free radicals in the environment from cigarette smoke, air pollution, and ultraviolet light from the sun.

The body also needs vitamin E to boost its immune system so that it can fight off invading bacteria and viruses. It helps to widen blood vessels and keep blood from clotting within them. In addition, cells use vitamin E to interact with each other and to carry out many important functions."

Did you notice anything different in the descriptions?  There was no mention of the vitamin E family members to Consumers. Now, after one reads the studies below and sees the benefits of consuming all the vitamin E family members, there is one question that should stand out.  Why does the NIH want to limit vitamin E family health protections for Consumers, especially since the vitamin E family members combine together to work on the most pressing health issues facing consumers today, functions that vitamin E as d'alpha tocopherol by itself does not do or only has limited action?  ref

 NOTE: Here is NEW research on tocotrienols and disease published in 2022. ref

WHAT IS VITAMIN E AND WHY THE CONTROVERSY???

This article was added since the original title for this topic was changed and the search key comes up blank. Please read the article highlighted in the next paragraph to discover the new Science about vitamin E family. While the alpha form of tocopherol, vitamin E, is vitally important, the other three tocopherols and four tocotrienols have some unique and vital functions of their own plus they complement the alpha form. Well, actually, they can be converted into the alpha form in the body when more alpha is needed, but the alpha form does not convert into the others. Interesting twist for Nature. ref

MAJOR PRECAUTIONS EXIST FOR VITAMIN E

NOTE: This topic is controversial since the science has not quite settled many vitamin E form issues. First, nature puts the family of 4 tocopherols together in food. The majority of supplements use just one, Alpha tocopherol, and almost never any of the four vitamin E family members from the tocotrienol group. Do the other three tocopherols and the four tocotrienols have vital functions needed by the body? Scientists are only now looking into the functions of these other natural vitamin E family forms. Some interesting positive results are mentioned next. Additionally, check out this breast cancer connection. ref ref How could the ODS have failed to see significance in the whole family of Vitamin E members? Ignoring at least 25 years of study. ref There is a logical though flawed explanation.*

FYI: This Oregon University website article has great and clear info on vitamin E.

There are other articles on this website (Vitamin E Family in Health and Disease) that cover aspects of this important topic. Vitamin E exists in nature in 4 tocopherol forms and 4 tocotrienol forms, as alpha, beta, delta, and gamma. In the 1940's, the FDA made a decision between two forms, a mixture of all 8 natural forms, or just the alpha tocopherol form to call vitamin E and be given vitamin E units.

The single alpha tocopherol form won out. Plus, to add insult to injury, the FDA also decided that the newly manufactured synthetic form of vitamin E, dl'alpha tocopheryl acetate, would be used to set the one unit amount of vitamin E. It is interesting to note that even at that time, Scientists saw that there was a difference between the natural and synthetic forms in activity.

The natural was more active and while 1 mg of the synthetic was set at 1 unit, it only took .67mg of the natural to equal. This was determined from a study on dogs. A much later human study puts it at about .50 mg. Any Professional today who says the 2 different forms are equal is really saying they are equal only if you compare different amounts. The 7 other members of the vitamin E family were not even allowed to be given any vitamin E unit values or even called vitamin E. ref

To this day, this remains one of the biggest mistakes of mainstream nutrition. Since Scientists don't like to admit they made such an egregious error and it is still being covered up and significantly kept from Public awareness.

DO NOT CONSUME OVER 300IU OF VITAMIN E as just D'alpha tocopherol without the other 3 tocopherols listed and at least some amount specified. Plus, NEVER take the synthetic form of vitamin E, listed as dl'alpha tocopheryl. The exact healthy ratio between the four tocopherols is not yet known. There are balance points that need respecting. 

 The issue here is that taking just the one form of vitamin E, whether natural or synthetic, becomes competitive for absorption in the digestive tract and the other 7 vitamin E family forms, arriving just in food, can get blocked out. This is what happened in the SELECT study. The body needs more than just the alpha tocopherol form to effectively deal with all types of free radicals. The alpha form deals effectively with oxygen generated free radicals, but it is another form from the vitamin E family, gamma tocopherol that handles nitrogen generated free radicals, Both forms of radicals attack prostate tissues. When the body needs more alpha tocopherol, it can convert the gamma form into alpha form, but not vice versa. And check out this tocotrienol study on cardiovascular disease and ageing. ref  And tocotrienols on protecting nerve cells and brain functions. ref  This study suggests tocotrienols should have their own vitamin classification due to their unique functions other than as an anti-oxidant. ref  

MULTIPLES FAIL TO MAXIMIZE VITAMIN E FORMS

 Over 95% of Multiples Vitamins in the marketplace today fail to provide the "complete" E family forms. Even the whole food vitamin forms fail in this category. 

This one example from a Rutgers University study result will provide clues as to the precautions mentioned above. In 2012, Yang & colleagues stated "that animal studies on colon, lung, breast, and prostate cancers found that gamma and delta tocopherols prevented cancer formation and growth...while the vitamin E form, d'alpha tocopherol, provided no such benefit." ref ref ref ref

Adding to this info that the other 3 vitamin E family tocopherols members are more effective against cancers than d-alpha tocopherol, check out this study on the other half of the vitamin E family, the tocotrienols. ref ref 

Disclaimer: Many of these studies are on animals or in test tubes. These results are not always duplicated inside humans, but serve more to give direction and possibilities. There are some human studies and these should carry more weight. ref article

OF INTEREST

The US Natural Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements, Professionals not only know about these vitamin E family functions, it was ODS grant money that funded many of the research studies. Thus, the question is more about the failure of the NIH to share this new vital vitamin information on their vitamin information sheets with the vitamin consuming Public. ref <consumers ref <professionals.  There must be other factors governing why beyond that of safeguarding the health of the Public. Check out this Grant study abstract application and details about testing vitamin E family forms on breast cancer. ref

Now, why the ODS fact sheets do not mention the other family members of vitamin E becomes that much more of an enigma. What were the results of this study?

COULD VITAMIN E STORY REALLY BE THIS SIMPLE

The alpha tocopherol form, the only one called vitamin E out of 8 related family members fround in nature, works great to neutralize oxygen radicals, or ROS. This is necessary for redox balance. But alpha tocopherol does not work against nitrogen radicals, RNS. It is the Gamma tocopherol form that neuralizes RNS. Elements formed from these two radicals interact or cross-talk to control other processes. ref A balance between the two is needed. ref If only alpha tocopherol is present in supplements (98%), it is possible that this would result in greater amounts of ROS neutralized compared to RNS and the balance point between them would be broken. The body would work overtime to correct, but eventually could fail. This would especially impact heart disease, cancers, and brain health. ref

The take away here is that only using alpha tocopherol for vitamin E is short-sighted. ROS and RNS are naturally formed by normal body processes as well as by added stressors. ROS and RNS radicals both have good and bad actions that need to be balanced and controlled by proper generation of antioxidants inside the body as well as from supplements depending upon certain other factors, diet, lifestyle, body genetics, environmentals, etc.

* There are two reasons that support the alpha tocopherol is the only form given human need. First, it is the only one of the 8 vitamin E family members that attaches to it's own specific and protective protein transporter in the blood stream. (Well, new information has a-T with 100% attraction to aTTP, and a few other vitamin E members also attach but at quite lower percentages.) And two, it is the only one that will be found in the blood stream after a few days. Thus, early Scientists though it was the only one needed. One more fact later discovered also added to this view, the other vitamin E members can covert in the body into the alpha tocopherol form when more of it is needed. But the alpha tocopherol form does not convert into the other forms. Obviously, Nature knew the alpha tocopherol form was important to be near where oxygen was most abundant, mainly in the blood stream, since alpha tocopherol is a vital reactive oxygen radical neutralizer. But, the story does not stop here for the other 7 vitamin E family forms as many of the articles and linked studies reveal. Many of the beneficial functions of these other 7 are beyond the scope of the actions of alpha tocpherol by itself. It's not nice to fool with Mother Nature.

VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENTS AND BLOOD PLASMA LEVELS 

This is a very important area in helping to understand vitamin E family dosage levels. The body knows that alpha tocopherol is very important to protect elements from oxidation and adds a protein transport carrier to hold alpha tocopherol where the most oxygen is found, in the blood, and then in cells. The amount of the other 3 tocopherols is very low in blood, but higher in glands and cells, plus fat cells. The typical ratio found in blood between alpha and gamma tocopherols is over 20 to 1.

Gamma tocopherol protects against nitrogen oxides. These can damage DNA in cells. Protein, amino acids, that repair and build new body structures contains nitrogen. The digestion system uses a lot of nitrogen. And then remember, if the body needs more alpha tocopherol, such as due to over consuming polyunsaturated oils, the body can convert gamma, beta, and delta tocopherols into the alpha form, but not vice versa. Plus, recall that consuming high amounts of alpha tocopherol in supplements reduces body levels of gamma tocopherol arriving from foods.

The exact amounts of the vitamin E family members to consume is still under debate. ref The American diet contains a lot of gamma tocopherol, maybe too much. And too many of certain dietary vegetable oils and fats increase the need for and use up alpha tocopherol. Best to analyze dietary food ratios and go from there. Dietary food nutrient surveys in America reveal a large percentge of the population is low in vitamin E as alpha tocopherol and very likely the other three tocopherols and especially the four tocotrienols. While a smaller minority over consume foods with certain vitamin E forms at the expense of others. 

Determining Ratios of Vitamin E family members

Precaution: While all the different forms of vitamin E family have roles in health, it is important to respect natural ratios and not overdue, especially the alpha to gamma tocopherol levels. The exact ratios are still under debate. It may be that different health conditions may need different levels. But an overall ratio is probably best to satisfy most conditions.

Precaution 2: There are studies showing a negative association of higher gamma tocopherol levels for some breast cancer research. Rmember, that these are mainly from just looking at dietary sources wtih a blood analysis to determine levels. Unfortunately, diets high in safflower, corn, and soy oils will yield higher gamma tocohperol levels. It may very well be the higher vegetable oil fat omega 6 ratio to omega 3 that is the real factor and not the gamma levels that cause the negative assocation.  ref article 

Another article. Real Vitamin E

Vitamin E family dosage determination

Why is information on proper vitamin E family member dosage missing? Government health agencies only list one member, alpha tocopherol. In the USA, RDI for vitamin E as alpha tocopherol is 15mg. or about 20 IUs. The other 7 vitamin E family members have various levels of vitamin E alpha tocopherol activity but this is not allowed to be added in label nutritional box. As you have most likely read in previous articles, there are functions for the other E family members that are unique from the antioxidant alpha tocopherol vitamin E function. ref  ref  Some scientists are now calling for a separate vitamin classification for the tocotrienols. ref

This is one of the most under-studied areas of vitamin E research. Different dietary food practices yield different amounts of the vitamin E family members. Major research projects are needed between Countries with different diets and vitamin E amounts compared to health associations. 

One point to add to the mix is that some of the lesser vitamin E members in tissues and glands, after they function to protect cells, turn into very cytotoxic forms that require quick neutralization. This points out the need for a totality approach to vitamin E formulas and other nutrients, like vitamin C, selenium, zinc, which are part of the detox apparatus.

Looking at absorption, this new study adds and changes some past assumptions. ref It reveals differences at each stage of absorption and assimilation and where each form goes. It is very complicated. Vitamin E as alpha tocopherol tends to self reduce absorption with increasing dosage amounts.

Here are a number of studies that look at vitamin E family dosages and length of time in body. ref  ref  ref   ref ref

Chief among functions for vitamin E as alpha tocopherol is to protect against polyunsaturated fatty acids from oxidization. Thus, alpha tocopherol rides along with PUFA's as they travel throughout the circulation system. Tocotrienols tend to predominate in cell membranes which are composed of fatty acids as phospholipids, offering great antioxidant protection.

Table 1: Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for Vitamin E (Alpha-Tocopherol) [6]

Age	Males	Females	Pregnancy	Lactation
0–6 months*	4 mg	4 mg
7–12 months*	5 mg	5 mg
1–3 years	6 mg	6 mg
4–8 years	7 mg	7 mg
9–13 years	11 mg	11 mg
14+ years	15 mg	15 mg	15 mg	19 mg

*Adequate Intake (AI)

FYI: There are studies that show a difference of vitamin E action direction at different amounts such as positive at lower amounts while negative at higher amounts. Determining proper supplement amounts is still somewhat unknown as well as the ideal ratios between the vitamin E family members. ref Thus, the recommendations on the new vitamin criteria are precautionary low.

Form	Alternative name	mg a-tocopherol equivalence
d-a-tocopherol	RRR-a-tocopherol	1
d-a-tocopherol acetate	RRR-a-tocopherol acetate	0.91
d-a-tocopherol acid succinate	RRR-a-tocopherol acid succinate	0.81
dl-a-tocopherol	all-rac-a-tocopherol	0.74
dl-a-tocopherol acetate	all-rac-a-tocopherol	0.67
d-ß-tocopherol	RRR-ß-tocopherol	0.25-0.40
d-?-tocopherol	RRR-?-tocopherol	0.10
a-tocotrienol		0.25-0.30

Vitamin E and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA)

Original Post April 2016.  PUFAs stands for polyunsaturated fatty acids. These are very large molecules that are highly susceptible to oxidation, a dangerous process to body integrity. Vitamin E helps protect (or control) PUFAs from oxidation. Thus, vitamin E is a good anti-oxidant for preventing unsaturated fats from breaking down into dangerous forms. ref  Vitamin E accomplishes this action by giving up a part of itself. After this action, the remaining part of vitamin E is now inactive and gets eliminated out of the body.* If too many PUFAs are allowed to breakdown, they can become rancid and toxic in the body. In scientific language, they produce too many negative aldehydes with resulting production of irreversible protein modifications. Since vegetable oils (mainly omega 6) and fish oils (mainly omega 3) have greater amounts of PUFA than animal saturated fats like butter and lard, greater amounts of vitamin E and other anti-oxidants are used up by a diet high in vegetable oils and fish oils. Plus, remember, the body uses some free radicals that generate lipid oxidation of PUFAs for positive purposes so there is a balance point to maintain. ref ref ref

SIDEBAR: One class of fats is called MUFA, standing for monounsaturated fatty acids. These fats can be quite good for the health of the body, especially on limiting LDL cholesterol oxidation in arteries. ref  Here is an article listing good dietary sources

SENIORS HAVE A FASTER FAT OXIDATION RATE THAN YOUNG PEOPLE. THEREFORE, SENIORS REQUIRE MORE ANTIOXIDANTS LIKE VITAMIN E TO PROTECT AGAINST FISH AND VEGETABLE OILS OXIDATIVE DAMAGE.

This pretty much sums up the dietary changes over the last century, higher PUFAs, as well as some supplement changes, higher vitamin E found in vegetable oils. The cholesterol theory of heart disease is responsible for many of these changes. Now, the question that this generated: Yes, there is more vitamin E in vegetable oils so the diet did increase somewhat in vitamin E over this time period. BUT, was it enough to offset the extra demands from the increased need to protect PUFAs? Especially since vitamin E gets processed out of many commercial vegetable oils. And then, add in supplemental PUFA omega 3 fish oils which were found to help prevent heart disease ref, but are still in a highly unstable state and need protection. ref ref

THE QUESTION ABOUT PUFAs? 

Are PUFAs healthy or not? You need some, but definitely, they may not be healthy in larger amounts. That is, the typical amount in the Standard American Diet today. Read the last line in this scientific article here.

Support for those who want a non-fish plant source of omega 3 fatty acids. ref

Fish oil supplements need to be protected during their total life span. Quality manufacturing, proper handling during and after processing, and refrigeration helps. Quality is not always visible. Buy from companies that care about protection and freshness. Fish oil capsules should contain a natural preservative (anti-oxidant) like vitamin E. Only buy small sizes, 90 or 60per individual. And refrigerate, especially after opening. Plus, leave the cotton or dessicant pak in bottle if present.

Two good choices would be Nordic Naturals Omega 3 softgels (with 330 mg EPA and 220 mg DHA in 2 softgels). this is a non-concentrated fish oil. Or Barlean's Fish Oil 100 softgels. The higher concentrations go through extra processing steps which change the natural molecular figuration. article

*Vitamins E and C may be recycled back to active state by Alpha Lipoic acid. This next ref talks about the superior anti-oxidant of using the whole family of tocopherols rather than just d-alpha tocopherol alone. There are certain forms of radicals that the alpha tocopherol form of vitamin E does not touch, but some of the other vitamin E family members do.

Tocotrienols of Vitamin E

Recommendation: Take 50 mg 2 or 3 times a week.

A valuable part of the vitamin E family that is seldom found in supplements. Just as well because they should be taken separate from vitamin E since alpha tocopherol in higher amounts may hinder tocotrienol absorption. Articles showing benefits of tocotrienols below, click on red underline:

This one for tocotrienols on inflammation and cancer:  Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2011 Jul;1229:18-22. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06088.x. 

Here tocotrienols help prevent cardiovascular damage by reducing inflammatory actions:  Lipids Health Dis. 2010 Dec 16;9:143.

Second reference is a review of resaearch that shows value for palm tocotrienols not only for cholesterol control but also for other vaulable tocotrienol actions.   ref  ref  ref

Caution: While a nutrient may have positive actions in one area, it is also necessary to discover if there are any other effects the nutrient may exhibit. While alpha tocotrienol helps lower cholesterol, it might also increase amyloid beta, a potential negative aspect on brain health. ref  This is a very real possibility here that nature, as happens with other nutrients, packages different nutrients together that have counter balancing actions.  Here is a study that used all 4 tocotrienols and found they were protective against amyloid beta build up. Other antioxidant supplements, Alpha lipoic acid, NAC, and vitamin E as tocopherols, also help prevent this amyloid beta build up as well. Synergism!  Thus, this is one reason why isolation of just one nutrient may present problems.  

Remember that Alpha tocopherol works against oxygen radicals while it is gamma tocopherol that works against nitrogen radicals. Testing just alpha tocopherol in the SELECT prostate study resulted in a slight negative response. Gamma T and alpha T are both needed to completely protect prostate tissue.

Tocotrienol Studies  Article

Vitamin E gamma tocopherol lung controversy

DOES GAMMA TOCOPHEROL CAUSE LUNG DAMAGE? (Questioning Analysis)

The CARDIA study ref followed 5000 subjects over 20 years with one arm later looking at the effects of alpha tocopherol and gamma tocopherol on lung function. The conclusion was that gamma tocopherol damaged lungs while alpha tocopherol protected lungs. ref  Here is the author's logic. After 1940, the American diet changed going from butter and lard to soy and corn oil margarine. This increased the amount of gamma tocopherol in the diet to levels higher than before this change. At the same time, lung and asthma disease cases started to rise. Adding in a report that showed lung damage in animals fed gamma tocopherol versus protection when fed alpha tocopherol, the authors concluded that gamma tocopherol was the guilty party responsible for the increase in asthma. The mechanism thought responsible was the action of protein kinase C alpha, increased by gamma tocopherol that promoted inflammation in the lungs by allowing white blood cells to go into lung tissues leading to inflammation. Here is easy read ref. In contrast to these findings, here is another animal study showing just the opposite that the gamma form of E has the greatest anti-inflammatory response. ref ref

SIDEBAR: The results of these "observation" studies or theories might be correct. But like many other nutrients, gamma tocopherol might influence pathways in two directions, one favorable and one not. Plus, it could also have different influences at high levels in test tubes or animals than inside the human body at normal levels. ref What determines which pathway happens depends upon other factors also present, such as the level of alpha tocopherol in this case, which in the animal lung study had opposing forces to balance. OR...

OR, it could be the that gamma works better against one type of radical while alpha works against another type, nitrogen versus oxygen, so the results would depend upon which oxidation form was dominate. Another difference is that alpha tocopherol prevents radical formation while gamma works to reduce free radicals after they are formed. BUT, the study could also have made mistakes in application of dietary changes that a second more advanced study discovered. Here is an animal study showing positive gamma and delta tocopherol effects. ref 2 And another positive study on reduced inflammatory markers here. Plus check out this reference showing greater protection from gamma and delta tocopherol on breast cancer risk.

The manner in which this lung damage finding was reported in the media sent a fear into vitamin consumers to question the vitamin E form and source they were consuming. It was reported that soy, corn, and canola oils were the source of the gamma form of E. While in foods the sources tell what form of the vitamin E family is most abundant, this has nothing to do with the form of vitamin E in supplements, or on the source. 98% of supplement vitamin E is from soy oil, but the gamma tocopherol fraction is changed entirely or almost all into the alpha tocopherol form, just like the body also has the ability to do if more alpha tocopherol is needed. There is more to this issue then the obvious. In fact, another later study going into far more detail on protein kinase C alpha also revealed just the opposite. Below is copied part of that study ref:

"Research on vitamin E including potential protective effects on asthma has mostly focused on αT (alpha tocopherol), the predominant form of vitamin E in tissues. Although severe αT deficiency appears to modulate airway allergic inflammation [1], inconsistent outcomes have been reported in clinical and animal studies regarding the role of α-T supplementation in airway diseases [2-6]. On the other hand, studies by us and others strongly suggest that other forms of vitamin E including γT (gamma tocopherol), the major form of vitamin E in US diet, appear to have unique properties that are important to disease prevention or treatment [7, 8]. We have shown that γ-T, δ-T and γ-TE as well as their metabolites are more potent than α-T in inhibition of cyclooxygenase- and 5-lipoxygenase-catalyzed eicosanoids in cell-based studies and in an inflammation model in rats [9-13]. γ-T is also better than α-T in scavenging reactive nitrogen species and attenuating inflammation-related damage [11, 14, 15]. γT administered by nebulization is shown to improve pulmonary function in sheepwith burn and smoke inhalation injury [16]. Recently, we have demonstrated that γ-T supplementation inhibited ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation in an asthma and allergic rhinitis model, respectively, in Brown Norway rats [17, 18]. In these studies, γ-T supplementation led to marked decrease of airway eosinophil infiltration and reduced proinflammatory cytokines [17, 18]. Despite these exciting findings, the mechanism(s) underlying γ-T-exerted inhibition of eosinophilia was not fully understood."

ANALYSIS: It looks like the side study in CARDIA missed something important. They thought that as canola and soy oils increased at same time as Asthma that the gamma tocopherol content of the oils was the guilty party. Especially since the rat study supported the damaged lungs from giving extra gamma taocopherol. The foods like soy and corn oil that have increased levels of gamma also use up more alpha to protect the oils against oxidation. This would increase the gamma content as a ratio with alpha.

Then along comes this new study that shows gamma tocopherol is more effective in reducing inflammation in asthma than alpha tocopherol. Plus, other emerging dietary factors that also occurred at the same time, such as changes reducing omega 3 and increasing omega 6, might have played a major role in creating inflammation. ref ref  It might very well be that the two E members have opposing influences (even on each other). Maybe that is why nature made gamma tocopherol able to convert into alpha tocopherol in the body. In nature they are usually found together and rarely just one or the other is present as is found in most supplements. Balance may be Nature's protective mechanism. ref

Which is the TRUTH? Could it be that it was the change to vegetable oil's omega 6 content that was really the inflammation trigger leading to lung impairment of the canola and soy diets (omega 6) versus the sunflower and olive oil diets with mostly omega 9 as 85% monounsaturated fat. Or was it the dietary reduction from 18 pounds to 4 pounds a year for butter consumption, also a source of omega 3 and vitamin A for heart health, that was the real villain? Important >ref* ref

Did greater hydrogenated vegetable oils and the resulting increase in trans fats with the associated reduction of vitamin K play a role. It would be a tragedy if people lost out on the benefits of the whole family of vitamin E from the false reports of lung damage by gamma tocopherol in this one study, especially since it was just an observational report of just looking at the facts and assuming an influence. Not that this study is without any value, it does give rise to the fact that a balance is needed between vitamin E family members as would exist in nature without man's interference. ref The exact beneficial ratios between the vitamin E family members, unknown at this time, would be achieved over a period of time naturally by the use of a variety of consumed natural whole foods.

BENEFITS OF GAMMA TOCOPHEROL

ON bone health:

Higher Gamma tocopherol protects and builds more bone than higher alpha tocopherol. ref  Here is conclusion from study: "Vitamin E supplements in the form of alpha-tocopherol suppress serum gamma-tocopherol levels and may have negative effects on bone formation. Further research is needed to investigate the potential anabolic (building) effect of gamma-tocopherol from food sources on bone." 

ON cancer: While this is just a lab study, the results...ref  ..ref

Here is perhaps the greatest benefit of gamma tocopherol on cancer. ref Gamma, but not alpha tocopherol, increases the death rate of cancer cells. Gamma tocopherol significantly protects against cell damage leading to tumors, and exhibits greater ability to destroy cancer cells than alpha tocopherol.

Would you rather prevent and destroy cancer cells or suffer 10% percent reduction in lung function, if indeed the first study was correct, which the second study questioned?

ON heart disease: 

 It is interesting to note this fact. Scientists wanted to find out the body levels of the vitamin E forms between healthy people versus people with heart disease. The amazing findings revealed that the d-alpha tocopherol levels were the same. Thus, it appears consuming d-alpha tocopherol vitamin E may not be related to the issue of prevention or influence on heart disease as some studies have shown. The finding that is of more significance, it was gamma tocopherol levels that were reduced in heart patients. Remember, the body has the ability to convert gamma tocopherol into the d-alpha tocopherol form if needed. So, it could very well be that d-alpha is needed in heart disease, but levels are maintained by gamma conversion so it is gamma that is low and needs to be supplemented as it has separate and unique functions that would be limited by this conversion to maintain alpha levels. Correct amounts have yet to be determined since studies are lacking to find this out. ref

*Chart for this  reference  showing the change in omega 3 to omega 6 from the butter and lard to soy and corn oils partly responsible for major inflammatory shift.

For Clarification Concerning Omega Fats:

It needs to be made clear that both omega 3 and omega 6 fats have vital roles to play in health. While one pathway for omega 6 is involved in generating inflammatory responses, this is a necessary and positive action for certain body situations. It is within a certain range that the balance between omega 3 and 6 is critical to control this inflammatory response to just when needed. The amount of Omega 3 as EPA is the nutrient the body uses to control the omega 6 pathway that goes into this inflammatory action potential. There are a couple of other healthful pathways for omega 6 fats. Also of critical importance is the protection of PUFAs by an antioxidant load including vitamin E, and not just d-alpha tocopherol alone, but the whole family of vitamin E players. (D-alpha, D-Delta, D-Beta, and D-Gamma in both tocopherol and tocotrienol configuration)

In the past, this omega balance was maintained. But, with modern food processing and production methods, the balance point was exceeded largely due to the increased use of higher omega 6 containing vegetable oils and beef from cattle raised in grain feedlots. Grain feeding of cattle changes the type of bacteria predominate in the cow's gut so that it does not produce enough omega 3 fat. It is just that simple. This event increased omega 6 fats and reduced omega 3 to the point where the body lost control of balancing mechanisms to try and compensate. Uncontrolled inflammation conditions became chronic and increased inflammatory related diseases, such as Cardiovascular and also some cancers. 

A vital piece of this inflammatory puzzle has been largely left out of most discussions. Grain lot feeding of cattle also diminished the amount of vitamin E family as well as almost completely eliminated the natural carotenoids cows would get from pasture grass. The cattle industry gives feedlot cows vitamin E supplements as a way to improve the anti-oxidant status of beef so it will not spoil as quickly. This eliminates the absorption of the little beta carotene in this type of diet, so it also has to be given in a limited controlled amount to prevent the yellowing of beef fat. ref 

Can you see how these nutritional changes in beef of fat types and anti-oxidant vitamins might have dramatically influenced health? And still do to this very day. These facts are responsible for the resurgence of the grass-fed beef movement.

WHAT ABOUT TOCOTRIENOLS?

Here is a study showing that gamma-tocotrienols inhibit inflammation in lungs while gamma tocopherol may increase.