title: Oral supplementation with all-Rac- and RRR-alpha-tocopherol increases vitamin E levels in human sebum after a latency period of 14-21 days.
abstract: In human skin, highest alpha-tocopherol levels are found in facial sebum. We hypothesized that the bioavailability of vitamin E in human skin is, at least in part, dependent on sebaceous gland secretion. To test this, 24 volunteers were subjected to a randomized daily supplementation with either 400 mg RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (RRR-alpha-toc) or 400 mg all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (all-rac-alpha-toc) for 14 days. Fasting blood samples, facial sebum samples, and lower-arm skin-surface lipids (SSL) were taken at time-points between 0-21 days. Samples were analyzed by HPLC for alpha-tocopherol and squalene concentrations. Increased serum alpha-tocopherol levels were detectable as early as 12 h after supplementation of RRR-alpha-toc or all-rac-alpha-toc and peaked on day 7. No significant changes were observed in lower-arm SSL. Remarkably, while unchanged until day 14, alpha-tocopherol sebum levels were increased on day 21 in both the RRR-alpha-toc and the all-rac-alpha-toc group by 87% and 92%, respectively. With respect to dietary supplementation of vitamin E and its bioavailability in human skin, these results suggest that (1) sebaceous gland secretion is a relevant delivery mechanism; (2) the bioavailabilities of RRR-alpha-toc and the all-rac-alpha-toc are similar; and (3) significant accumulation requires a daily supplementation period of at least 2-3 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Swarna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ekanayake-Mudiyanselage
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kraemer
authors.forename: Jens J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Thiele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D012629:Sebum / Q000737:chemistry*; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry; D013185:Squalene / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D024505:Tocopherols; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D014810:Vitamin E; D013185:Squalene; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D024505:Tocopherols