Metabolism Physiobiochemical Significance

(AT), among the 8 phytochemicals with similar structure, in determining the recommendations for vitamin E. This decision was made because AT provides the highest level of protection against fetal resorption in rat dams, the criterion used to determine vitamin E activity [1]. Several recent reviews, however, have described the numerous studies demonstrating the anticarcinogenic properties of the other vitamin E-like phytochemicals upon breast, prostate, colorectal and lung tumors in human populations, animal models and cell culture [2-6]. Vitamin E has been demonstrated to act as an antioxidant [7] and some theories of tumorigenesis have focused upon antioxidants being preventive [8]. The possible role of vitamin E in the form of alpha-tocopherol (AT) has been explored with respect to colon, rectal and prostate tumor prevention with only moderately successful results [9,10]. Numerous reviews, meta-analyses and research papers