Most Vitamin E supplements available today consist mainly of "dl" tocopheryls that are synthetically made and less potent in the human body than naturally occurring tocopherols. Fortunately, research is now uncovering the intricacies of the Vitamin E family of compounds and how they interact within the body to exert the benefits we have known for years. Scientists have identified 4 forms of tocopherols (alpha, beta, delta, and gamma) and, possibly more important, it’s close natural cousins in the form of tocotrienols (alpha, beta, delta, and gamma). We know that nature produces these various tocopherols and tocotrienols together because of their synergism in the plant as well as in the human. Therefore, the most ideal Vitamin E is COMPLETE with all forms of Vitamin E. Complete ETM is a full spectrum Vitamin E with Tocotrienols, CoQ10, Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) and Vitamin C.
Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin that exists in 8 different forms. Each form has its own biological activity, a measure of potency or functionality. However, alpha-Tocopherol remains the most well known because it is found in the largest quantities in the blood and tissues. Recently, the media has disclosed data on vitamin E’s powerful antioxidant potential. Antioxidants such as Vitamin E’s act to protect your cells against the effects of free radicals, which are potentially damaging by-products of everyday metabolism, detoxification and irradiation (sun exposure). Free radicals can cause cell damage, which can contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Vitamin E is uniquely suited to combat certain types of free radicals (fat soluble or peroxyl radicals) and prevent a chain reaction of lipid destruction (cell membranes, low-density lipoproteins or LDLs). Once membranes are damaged they can loose their integrity and functionality. Lipoproteins are important for transportation of fats through the blood stream. Once oxidized by free radicals, these LDLs can damage the walls of arteries and veins and cause the development of foam cells or plaque that leads to a myriad of cardiovascular complications. Other functions of Vitamin E, which are not likely to be related to antioxidant capacity, are the expression and activity of immune and inflammatory cells or the inhibition of platelet aggregation and its ability to enhance normal blood flow.
After a tocopherol molecule neutralizes a free radical, it is altered in such a way that its antioxidant capacity is lost. However, other antioxidants, such as vitamin C and ALA, are capable of regenerating the antioxidant capacity of vitamin E. As a lipid soluble radical is “caught” by tocopherol, it wants to give it up for disposal. Again, this is usually inside a lipid membrane and it needs to transport the radical to the outside of the cell, an aqueous (water) environment. Therefore, a lipid and water soluble molecule is needed to pass off to the outside layer. Fortunately, ALA and vitamin C are perfectly suited to accept the radical for disposal and the tocopherols are ready to go back into action.
Much of Vitamin E research has been performed looking at the powerful benefits Alpha tocopherol provides the human body. Scientists now believe that a less common form of vitamin E maybe just as beneficial and work with a synergistic effect. Gamma tocopherol has been shown in clinical studies to be effective in fighting nitrogen free radicals. These free radicals are the major culprits in decreasing bone, joint, muscular, and brain health. It is also known that gamma tocopherol helps to preserve alpha tocopherol. In a recent study, increased plasma alpha- tocopherol levels were associated with a significant increase in prostate health. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors show promise in many degenerative conditions linked to chronic inflammation. Gamma tocopherol has shown an ability to be a defense against diseases stemming from chronic inflammation by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX 2), therefore providing benefits to people concerned with joint, cardiovascular and immune health. Nitric oxide released by macrophages during inflammation reacts with active oxygen to form peroxynitrite. Gamma-Tocopherol traps peroxynitrite and is more effective than alpha-tocopherol in protecting lipids against such peroxidation. Less lipid peroxidation means increased cardiovascular health. Research continues to further reveal the powers of gamma tocopherol.
Tocotrienols are members of the vitamin E family. Like tocopherols, tocotrienols are potent antioxidants against lipid peroxidation (the damaging of fats by oxidation). Human studies indicate that, in addition to their antioxidant activity, tocotrienols have other important functions, especially in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system. In a double blind study patients with severely blocked arteries that were administered tocotrienol had marked reductions in the level of lipid peroxides in the blood leading to reductions in clogged arteries. Much of the recent clinical investigations (notably tocotrienols derived from palm oil) have reported that tocotreinols can significantly reduce cholesterol levels.
Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin C further compliments this Full Spectrum Vitamin E. ALA and Vitamin C act as vitamin recyclers as well as free radical scavengers. ALA, unlike other antioxidants, is both fat and water-soluble and is easily absorbed and transported across cell membranes. This unique quality offers protection against free radicals both inside and outside the cell while other antioxidants are more site specific. Lipoic acid has the ability to regenerate other antioxidants like vitamin E, vitamin C and gluthathione (GSH) for further use after they have eradicated free radicals. Vitamin C, in the form of ascorbyl palmitate is a lipid (fat) soluble form of vitamin C. Ascorbyl palmitate maintains all the physiologic active of vitamin C without the problems that can be associated with ascorbic acid or L-ascorbic acid (the common water soluble form of vitamin C). Ascorbyl palmitate is extremely stable. In fact it is the only vitamin C molecule that will maintain its vitamin C activity for long periods of time. Because ascorbyl palmitate can reside in the cell membrane, it can regenerate the vitamin E radical on a continuous basis, making Complete ETM the total vitamin E supplement.