Helps prevent cancer, heart disease, cataracts. The best evidence so far concerns the protective effect of large doses of vitamin E against coronary artery disease. Vitamin E, we are proud to point out, was discovered at UC Berkeley about 80 years ago. During the past decade it has been a star among nutrients, attracting increasing attention from both scientists and consumers. With most vitamins, the body can't tell the difference between natural and synthetic.
Vitamin E is the exception, since there are chemical differences.
But this isn't necessarily true. Recent studies have shown that natural E is not only better absorbed, but also better retained in the body than the synthetic form. Four of these are tocopherols, named alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. Alpha tocopherol is by far the main type of E in the body. Synthetic capsules are dl-alpha tocopherol.