Age-related changes of vitamin E: α-tocopherol levels in plasma and various tissues of mice and hepatic α-tocopherol transfer protein

Purpose Despite numerous studies on the RRR- and all-rac-α-tocopherol isoform of vitamin E (VE) during aging, this relationship has not been examined in specific tissues. Since α-tocopherol is the most abundant of VE’s eight isoforms, and VE is an important antioxidant that impacts the aging process, we analyzed α-tocopherol levels in plasma and tissues of mice at progressive ages. Moreover, we examined protein and mRNA expression levels of hepatic α-tocopherol transfer protein (α-TTP), which specifically binds α-tocopherol, during aging.