This Kinetic, Bioavailability, and Metabolism Study of RRR-α-Tocopherol in Healthy Adults Suggests Lower Intake Requirements than Previous Estimates

Kinetic models enable nutrient needs and kinetic behaviors to be quantified and provide mechanistic insights into metabolism. Therefore, we modeled and quantified the kinetics, bioavailability, and metabolism of RRR-α-tocopherol in 12 healthy adults. Six men and 6 women, aged 27 ± 6 y, each ingested 1.81 nmol of [5(-14)CH(3)]-(2R, 4'R, 8'R)-α-tocopherol; each dose had 3.70 kBq of (14)C. Complete collections of urine and feces were made over the first 21 d from dosing. Serial blood samples were drawn over the first 70 d from dosing. All specimens were analyzed for RRR-α-tocopherol. Specimens were also analyzed for (14)C using accelerator MS. From these data, we modeled and quantified the kinetics of RRR-α-tocopherol in vivo in humans. The model had 11 compartments, 3 delay compartments, and reservoirs for urine and feces. Bioavailability of RRR-α-tocopherol was 81 ± 1%. The model estimated residence time and half-life of the slowest turning-over compartment of α-tocopherol (adipose tissue) at 499 ± 702 d and 184 ± 48 d, respectively. The total body store of RRR-α-tocopherol was 25,900 ± 6=220 μmol (11 ± 3 g) and we calculated the adipose tissue level to be 1.53 μmol/g (657 μg/g). We found that a daily intake of 9.2 μmol (4 mg) of RRR-α-tocopherol maintained plasma RRR-α-tocopherol concentrations at 23 μmol/L. These findings suggest that the dietary requirement for vitamin E may be less than that currently recommended and these results will be important for future updates of intake recommendations.