Preferential incorporation of alpha-tocopherol vs gamma-tocopherol in human lipoproteins

Approximately 12 h after the ingestion of a single dose containing 1000 mg each of all-rac-alpha-tocopherol and RRR-gamma-tocopherol, the plasma and lipoproteins of normal subjects contained equal increases of both tocopherols; by 24 h the concentration of gamma-tocopherol, but not the alpha-tocopherol, decreased sharply. Similar studies in hyperlipidemic subjects demonstrated that the plasma and the chylomicron fraction from lipoprotein lipase-deficient patients (with elevated chylomicrons) contained both tocopherols up to 24 h, whereas plasma from a patient with dysbetalipoproteinemia (with elevated beta very-low-density lipoproteins) displayed the decrease in gamma-tocopherol at 24 h. These studies demonstrate that both alpha- and gamma-tocopherols are absorbed and secreted by the intestine in chylomicrons, and suggest that alpha-tocopherol is preferentially secreted by the liver in nascent lipoproteins. Furthermore, studies in post-gall bladder surgery patients suggest a preferential secretion of gamma-tocopherol in bile. Thus, the liver rather than the intestine appears to discriminate between alpha- and gamma-tocopherols.