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What Is the Structure of Vitamin E?

E.A. Sanker
E.A. Sanker

Vitamin E, an important antioxidant in the human and animal diet, is not a single substance but a series of chemical compounds with related chemical structure. There are two main types of vitamin E compounds: tocopherols and tocotrienols. These are organic compounds, meaning that they are made up mainly of hydrogen and carbon atoms, and they are also soluble in fat. Differences in the structure of vitamin E compounds provide eight variations in total — four tocopherol and four tocotrienol structures, each labeled alpha, beta, gamma, and delta.

The general structure of vitamin E consists of two bonded rings of atoms, one of which includes an oxygen atom bonded to carbon atoms and the other of which is an aromatic ring. An aromatic ring is a hexagonal ring composed of six bonded carbons. Three of the bonds are double bonds, meaning that the atoms in these bonds each share four electrons rather than the usual two. In an aromatic ring, these bond types alternate among the carbon atoms.

Barley, which contains tocotrienols.
Barley, which contains tocotrienols.

In all forms of vitamin E, these rings are connected to a tail of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Tocopherols have a saturated tail, meaning that all carbon atoms are bonded to hydrogen atoms with single bonds — a single pair of electrons is shared in each bond. With tocotrienols, the tail is unsaturated, and some carbons are double bonded, sharing four electrons. The structure of vitamin E also includes a hydroxyl group in its carbon ring — an oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom.

One of the two main types of Vitamin E compounds, tocopherols are found in peanut oil.
One of the two main types of Vitamin E compounds, tocopherols are found in peanut oil.

Tocopherols are found in plants, nuts, and oils, such as sunflower and peanut oil. Human beings tend to absorb the most common form, known as alpha-tocopherol. Alpha, beta, gamma, and delta tocopherols are distinguished from each other based on slight variations in their chemical structures. These variations occur in the groups of atoms bonded to carbons in the aromatic ring.

Sunflower oil is rich in vitamin E.
Sunflower oil is rich in vitamin E.

Tocotrienols occur naturally in coconut oil, barley, and a few other foods, though they are not as common as tocopherols. The structure of vitamin E in its tocotrienol form makes it effective in anti-aging skin products. This is due to the molecule’s unsaturated tail, which makes it better able to move into areas of saturated fat.

The hydroxyl group in the structure of vitamin E gives the vitamin its antioxidant properties. This group chemically captures free radicals, compounds that would otherwise cause a chain reaction leading to cell damage. Vitamin E’s ability to prevent oxidation makes it valuable to overall tissue health.

If you want to learn more about the benefits of vitamin E and its role as an antioxidant in your diet, consider a simple online search for "dietitians near me". These nutrition experts can provide valuable insights into incorporating vitamin E-rich foods like nuts, oils, and grains into your meals. They can also guide you on the appropriate intake of vitamin E for your individual health needs.

Discussion Comments

stoneMason

@fBoyle-- Alpha-tocopherol is the most common type of vitamin E found, that's why some people refer to them interchangeably. But it's just one type. I read that gamma-tocopherol is superior and helps prevent cancer.

ddljohn

@fBoyle-- You have some great questions. I'm no expert in chemistry but as far as I know, there is only one type of vitamin E found in nature. But it is possible to make different types of vitamin E (synthetic vitamin E) in the laboratory with different variations of the compounds that make up this vitamin. They basically play around with the isomers in the vitamin E structure to come up with different combinations.

The only reason I know all this is because I'm really into supplements and did some research on vitamin E supplements. I found out that most vitamin E supplements contain synthetic vitamin E or have unbalanced versions of natural vitamin E. The only way to get natural and balanced vitamin E is through food. I try to get all my vitamin E needs from fruits, veggies and nuts.

fBoyle

If vitamin E is a serious of compounds that come in different combinations, does this mean that there are multiple types of vitamin E?

I always find this confusing because in class, my instructor usually refers to vitamin E as "alpha-tocopherol." I don't know why because there are compounds other than tocopherol in Vitamin E.

Can anyone explain this to me?

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    • Barley, which contains tocotrienols.
      By: 1999istek
      Barley, which contains tocotrienols.
    • One of the two main types of Vitamin E compounds, tocopherols are found in peanut oil.
      By: WimL
      One of the two main types of Vitamin E compounds, tocopherols are found in peanut oil.
    • Sunflower oil is rich in vitamin E.
      By: Serhiy Shullye
      Sunflower oil is rich in vitamin E.