The effect of dietary gamma-tocopherol on serum tocopherols in formulated infants

The levels of alpha-, beta- and gamma-tocopherol were determined in two formulas (Nutramigen and Soja-semp) and in 20 infants fed either of these formulas. The gamma-tocopherol concentration in Nutramigen was 22.8 +/- 1.9 mumol/l; and that in Soja-semp 3.7 +/- 0.5 mumol/l. This difference was reflected in the serum tocopherols of the infants, since in the 10 infants fed Nutramigen, gamma-tocopherol accounted for 16.7 +/- 7.9% of the total tocopherols compared to 4.2 +/- 1.8% in the 10 infants fed Soja-semp. The study shows that gamma-tocopherol accumulates in the serum of infants fed large amounts of it. The serum gamma-tocopherol level should therefore be taken into account, when estimating the vitamin E status in humans, especially when the intake of gamma-tocopherol is high.