Vitamin E regulation

Abstract
Vitamin E deficiency in humans has lead to the discovery of regulatory mechanisms that control plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations and prevent the accumulation of other molecules with vitamin E-antioxidant activity, such as gamma-tocopherol. This review describes these regulatory mechanisms. alpha-tocopherol regulatory proteins have been cloned and crystallized and their mechanisms of action are under intense scrutiny. Studies of vitamin E metabolism suggest that xenobiotic metabolism may not only regulate vitamin E concentrations, but that vitamin E may regulate xenobiotic clearance pathways. Advances in our understanding of vitamin E nutrition suggest that vitamin E is a potent molecule that is closely regulated such that alpha-tocopherol is at the appropriate tissue concentrations necessary for some as yet to be described functions.

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