Natural vs. Synthetic Vitamin E
Vitamin E is one of the most exciting eye nutrients. It's also one of the most confusing, since vitamin E exists in so many different forms! Experts agree, however, that the best form is d-alpha-tocopherol (natural vitamin E). Where to find vitamin E? Natural vitamin E can be found in the following foods:
It's nearly impossible to get
therapeutic levels of vitamin E from diet alone, since foods contain
only trace amounts. Supplementation is a better way to get higher levels
of vitamin E. But which supplement should you buy? Some consumers
automatically choose the cheapest vitamin E supplement. But not all vitamin E is the same. Many cheap supplement manufacturers cut corners by using synthetic vitamin E -- a more affordable form (dl-alpha-tocopheryl) that "does less" than natural vitamin E.
Did you know? Synthetic vitamin E is made from petrochemicals, a.k.a. petroleum. Yuck.
Natural Vitamin E vs. Synthetic Vitamin E
When you consume natural vitamin E -- either from food or from supplements -- you get the superior form that matches what nature intended. Natural vitamin E is recognized by the body and absorbed more fully than its synthetic counterpart. Research has suggested that:
Did you know? Synthetic vitamin E is made from petrochemicals, a.k.a. petroleum. Yuck.
Natural Vitamin E vs. Synthetic Vitamin E
When you consume natural vitamin E -- either from food or from supplements -- you get the superior form that matches what nature intended. Natural vitamin E is recognized by the body and absorbed more fully than its synthetic counterpart. Research has suggested that:
- Natural vitamin E is 100% more bioavailable than synthetic vitamin E
- Natural vitamin E is twice as effective as synthetic vitamin E
- The body retains natural vitamin E in its tissues longer than it retains synthetic vitamin E
Under the eyes category, vitamin E is a highly-regarded super-nutrient. High vitamin E intake is associated with a 20% reduction in risk of developing AMD. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) found that a mixed supplement of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, zinc and copper reduced the risk of developing moderate-to-severe vision loss by 25%. Those with moderate to advanced AMD were found to reduce their risk of further vision loss by taking this antioxidant combination.
- The AREDS study achieved positive results by using the synthetic form of vitamin E. It begs the question: How much better would the AREDS results have been if the study used the superior natural form of vitamin E?
When buying a vitamin E supplement, check the label to see if it contains natural or synthetic vitamin E. Here's an easy way to remember the difference:
- Natural Vitamin E = d-alpha-tocopherol
- Synthetic Vitamin E = dl-alpha-tocopheryl
- "dl" = Does Less!
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