Background: Gamma-tocopherol has unique properties that may be beneficial in sustaining optimal human health, but hepatic vitamin E metabolism enhances gamma-tocopherol turnover.
Objective: Our aim was to determine the extent to which dietary sesame lignans alter human alpha- and gamma-tocopherol metabolism and elimination as carboxyethyl hydroxychromanols (CEHCs).
Design: Healthy participants (n = 5 women and 5 men) in a randomized, crossover study (with 4-wk washout) consumed muffins prepared with either corn oil or unrefined sesame oil (sesamin, 94 mg; sesamolin, 42 mg), along with a capsule containing a 1:1 molar ratio of deuterium-labeled d(6)-alpha- and d(2)-gamma-tocopherol acetates ( approximately 50 mg each). Plasma and urine were collected up to 72 h; unlabeled and labeled tocopherol and CEHC concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Results: Sesame oil muffin consumption in men, but not in women, decreased (P < 0.05) areas under plasma d(2)-gamma-CEHC concentration-time curves (area under the curve) and maximum concentrations. However, in both sexes urinary d(2)-gamma-CEHCs were decreased for 24 h following sesame oil muffin consumption.
Conclusions: In humans, gamma-tocopherol metabolism can be inhibited by the simultaneous consumption of gamma-tocopherol and sesame lignans. The observed differences between men and women with respect to vitamin E metabolism warrant further investigation.