Reviewing the The Role of Anti-oxidants lesson may help with some of the terminology in this lesson.

There are many forms of tocopherol, but the body only recognizes alpha-tocopherol (α-tocopherol). It is carried through the body only by fat--which is the ideal transport method in that tocopherol is an antioxidant for when low-density lipoproteins are oxidized.

It is often believed "lipids" are a bad thing in the body. While certain qualities of lipids are desired in more quantities in the body, it is the oxidation of the lipids that is of most concern. This is why the presence of vitamin E is such a tremdous asset to the body.

Unlike vitamin C, vitamin E can be stored in the body. This isimportant because it also serves the function in the body of protecting cell membranes. As you may remember cells make tissues, which make up organs, which make up systems. Cell health is of vital importance for the health of our bodies.

Vitamin E is also very fragile. Light and heat degrade it quickly. Since a major source of it is in polyunsaturated oils (sunflower, peanut, canola, and safflower) it is important to keep these oils fresh, stored in dark bottles and/or places, and free of heating, as in frying.

Manufactured vitamin E is inferior to natural vitamin E, because the body is able to distinguish between the two and only uses about half of the synthetic version. While getting nutrients in their natural form is essential to excellent health because all the nutrients are balanced against each other, it is suggested that someone who must consume synthetic vitamin E double their serving.