title: Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of the RRR and all racemic stereoisomers of alpha-tocopherol in humans after single oral administration.
abstract: The plasma and red blood cell pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of the natural source (RRR, d) and all racemic (all rac, dl) stereoisomers of alpha-tocopherol were studied in 12 men in a double-blind randomized crossover study. Subjects were administered two 400-mg soft-gelatin capsules of either RRR or all rac alpha-tocopherol. Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography at various time intervals for up to 96 hours postadministration. Pharmacokinetic modeling of the data showed that alpha-tocopherol was absorbed after a 2 to 4 hour lagtime and maximum plasma concentration occurred from 12 to 14 hours postadministration. There were no significant differences in the Ka, t1/2 a, beta, or t1/2 beta between RRR and all rac. Mean plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations were greater for RRR than all rac from 10 to 96 hours postadministration and significantly greater at 24 hours (P < .05). The red blood cell alpha-tocopherol concentration from the RRR preparation was significantly greater than from the all rac preparation from 24 to 96 hours postadministration with Cmax for RRR (4.8 micrograms/mL) significantly greater than for all rac (4.0 micrograms/mL, P < .05). The RRR AUC0-96 for both plasma and red blood cells were significantly greater than the all rac AUC0-96 (P < .05) indicating a greater bioavailability of RRR versus all rac alpha-tocopherol. This difference in overall bioavailability was apparently not due to a single pharmacokinetic component.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City 37614.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Ferslew
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Acuff
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Daigneault
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Woolley
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Stanton
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001682:Biological Availability; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D014810:Vitamin E