Alpha‐tocopherol supplementation in lactating women impacts stereoisomer distribution but not total tocopherol content (250.1)

Abstract

Eighty‐eight lactating women were randomized in 3 groups: Synthetic, 101.2 IU dl‐alpha‐tocopherol; Mixed, 30 IU d‐alpha‐tocopherol + 50.6 IU dl‐alpha‐tocopherol; or Natural, 60 IU d‐alpha‐tocopherol to assess the effect of supplementation on lactating women. Breast milk and plasma tocopherols were assessed at the beginning and end of the study by HPLC. There were no differences in alpha, gamma, and delta‐tocopherol in breast milk and plasma or vitamin E intake. There was a significant correlation between breast milk and plasma gamma‐tocopherol (r=0.52, P<0.0001). RRR was the most abundant stereoisomer in breast milk and plasma and increased over time. The natural supplement had a 1.4 and 1.2‐fold (breast milk) and 1.5 and 1.2‐fold (plasma) increase in RRR (percent of total stereoisomers) compared to the synthetic and mixed groups, respectively (P<0.05). There was a 2.4 and 3.1‐fold decrease in the percent of synthetic stereoisomers (2S, RSS, RRS and RSR) in the natural group compared to the synthetic group, in breast milk and plasma, respectively, and a 1.3 and 1.5‐fold decrease in breast milk and plasma compared to the mixed group (P<0.05). Taken together, alpha‐tocopherol stereoisomers in breast milk and plasma of lactating women change according to the type of supplement consumed, and RRR had a greater impact on blunting synthetic stereoisomer distribution likely due to the high percentage of RRR in all groups.Grant Funding Source: Supported by Abbott Nutrition