Each fraction of vitamin E has its own power, but recent research shows that gamma-tocopherol shines as a scavenger of one of our bodies most foreign troll free radicals, peroxynitrite. This molecule is formed when white blood cells (such as leukocytes, monocytes and macrophages) are activated to fight infection. nitric oxide reacts with superoxide, forming proxynitrate, Inc. and can cause significant cellular damage in chronic inflammation. Martin Pall, Ph.D., School Of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, has identified the NO/ONOO- cycle- the stress-induced increase in the levels of nitric oxide and its oxidant product peroxynitrite, and the biochemical vicious cycle that keeps these levels, chronically elevated – as a key mechanism underlying oxidative stress. Gamma-tocopherol is one of the number of key nutrients that together may assist and down-regulating this NO/ONOO – cycle mechanism.

Gamma-Tocopherol is also a potent antioxidant, and may have anticoagulant, immunomodulating, and cardiovascular effects. It decreases oxidation of cholesterol, and increases activity of the free radical scavenger superoxide dismutase. gamma-tocopherol also protects polyunsaturated fatty acids in cell membranes, and in cholesterol.

Low levels of gamma-tocopherol, may be linked to coronary artery disease, according to a recent study. In laboratory studies of cells, gamma-tocopherol seem to inhibit the activation of one of the body’s most powerful inflammatory molecules- NF-Kappa B. and, in a study of human prostate cancer cells in the laboratory, gamma-tocopherol was a more powerful inhibitor of cancer than alpha-tocopherol.

Though about 70% of vitamin E in our diet is in the form of gamma-tocopherol, is much less present in the blood than alpha-tocopherol, and seem to be more rapidly taken up in turnover in tissues (as in delta-tocotrienol). Gamma-tocopherol is found in seeds and nuts, including soybeans, corn and walnuts.

However, recent studies indicate that gamma-tocopherol may be important to human health and that it possesses unique features that distinguish it from alpha-tocopherol. gamma-Tocopherol appears to be a more effective trap for lipophilic electrophiles than is alpha-tocopherol.

Both gamma-tocopherol and gamma-CEHC, but not alpha-tocopherol, inhibit cyclooxygenase activity and, thus, possess antiinflammatory properties. Some human and animal studies indicate that plasma concentrations of gamma-tocopherol are inversely associated with the incidence of cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer. These distinguishing features of gamma-tocopherol and its metabolite suggest that gamma-tocopherol may contribute significantly to human health in ways not recognized previously.

Gamma-tocopherol, which occurs naturally in in various seeds as mentioned above, inhibits the proliferation of lab-cultured human prostate and lung cancer cells. The vitamin’s presence interrupts the synthesis of certain fatty molecules called sphingolipids, important components of cell membranes. However, the gamma-tocopherol leaves healthy human prostate cells unaffected, which could give it value as an anticancer agent. It appears that this is the first time gamma-tocopherol has been shown to induce death in lab-grown human cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone.

Most vitamin E nutritional supplements contain only alpha-tocopherol, a different form of vitamin E that alone does not have these anticancer properties. Martin Pall, Ph.D. has developed a unique softgel that contains high levels of gamma-tocopherol combined with CoQ10, carotenoids and tocotrienols.

Now here is a product that may have some importance to treating cancer successfully.