The Biological Activity of Di-α-Tocopherone.

Summary Di-α-tocopherone, a recently characterized metabolite of α-tocopherol isolated from animal tissues, was tested for biological activity with respect to resorption-gestation in Vit. E-deficient rats, nutritional muscular dystrophy in rabbits and hereditary muscular dystrophy in mice. The results indicate that this metabolite has less than 5% of the Vit. E activity of α-tocopherol and that it possesses no therapeutic value in treatment of the congenital myopathy. Its probable role in metabolism is that of a terminal oxidation product rather than an active form of Vit. E.