Dimers and Trimers of α-Tocopherol: Metabolic and synthetic studies

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Abstract
The metabolism of α-tocopherol was studied in rats and mice. Evidence has been presented for formation of dimers and trimers of α-tocopherol in animals that received parenteral α-tocopherol. These products were shown to be identical with synthetic products of oxidative condensation of α-tocopherol. The structure of these synthetic compounds was extensively studied by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry providing evidence of the necessity for modification of previously proposed structures. Dimers and trimers were not demonstrable after oral administration of α-tocopherol to rats. It is suggested that oxidative condensation does not represent a quantitatively important metabolic pathway under physiological conditions.