Gamma-Tocopherol
Also called γ-tocopherol, gamma E, gamma-T, mixed tocopherols, gamma vitamin E.
Best grade C across 7 graded outcomes Vitamin Last checked
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The short answer
From 11 sourcesGamma-tocopherol is the most common vitamin E form in US diets but not the form that meets vitamin E requirements. Small trials of high-dose supplements changed inflammation markers: less airway inflammation in 15 people with asthma and fewer premenstrual symptoms in 51 women. A short course did not protect against ozone, and no trial measured disease outcomes.
Every graded outcome on this page
7 rows · line = participants- CGrade COxidative stress and inflammation markers in metabolic syndromeInflammationn 80
- CGrade CPremenstrual symptoms linked to water retentionPremenstrual symptomsn 51
- DGrade DBlood-vessel function after quitting smokingBlood vesselsn 30
- DGrade DAirway inflammation in mild asthmaAirway inflammationn 15
- DGrade DOzone-induced airway inflammation in asthmaAir pollutantsn 15
- DGrade DWood smoke-induced airway inflammationAir pollutantsn 11
- ∅No effectPlatelet activation in type 2 diabetesPlateletsn 58
- 4 more graded outcomes, in the evidence chapter
Key facts
- What it is
- One of eight natural vitamin E forms; most vitamin E in American diets is gamma-tocopherol from vegetable oils1
- Requirements
- Only alpha-tocopherol is recognised to meet human vitamin E needs; the RDA and upper limit refer to alpha-tocopherol1
- Best trial results
- Less sputum eosinophilia in 15 people with mild asthma (1,200 mg/day for 14 days); less fatigue and irritability before periods in 51 women (360 mg/day)32
- Air pollution
- Courses of 2 to 7 days did not stop ozone or wood smoke from inflaming the airways, though eosinophil inflammation from wood smoke was blunted78
- Bleeding
- ODS: large vitamin E doses with warfarin or antiplatelet drugs can raise bleeding risk1
What it is
Gamma-tocopherol is a form of vitamin E and the main one in American diets, from soybean, canola and corn oils; supplements sell it in mixed tocopherols.
Forms
Form
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamma-rich mixed tocopherols (softgels) | Varies1Not applicable (vitamin form; no elemental fraction) | Absorbed with dietary fat like other vitamin E forms, but the liver preferentially keeps alpha-tocopherol, so blood levels of other forms stay lower.1 | ODS: high-dose vitamin E supplements carry a bleeding risk, the basis of the 1,000 mg/day adult upper limit for supplemental alpha-tocopherol.1 | Premenstrual symptoms (360 mg/day), asthma (1,200 mg/day), metabolic syndrome (800 mg/day) |
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Trial map
7 graded outcomes, largest study first7 graded outcomes: 3 improved, 2 mixed, 2 no effect. The largest, a 2008 randomized trial of 80 people on oxidative stress and inflammation markers in metabolic syndrome, found mixed results.
1Oxidative stress and inflammation markers in metabolic syndrome
Mixed · Grade C · RCT, 80 people, 2008
People with metabolic syndrome, 20 per group in four groups
Dose, result and source| Outcome | Found | People | Study | Who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxidative stress and inflammation markers in metabolic syndrome | Mixed | 80 | Grade C · RCT, 2008 | People with metabolic syndrome, 20 per group in four groups |
| Platelet activation in type 2 diabetes | No effect | 58 | No-effect grade · RCT, 2006 | 58 people with type 2 diabetes in three groups |
| Premenstrual symptoms linked to water retention | Improved | 51 | Grade C · Crossover RCT, 2023 | 51 Japanese women with premenstrual symptoms, mainly from water retention |
| Blood-vessel function after quitting smoking | Improved | 30 | Grade D · RCT, 2013 | Young smokers who quit for 7 days (16 supplement, 14 placebo) |
| Ozone-induced airway inflammation in asthma | No effect | 15 | Grade D · Crossover RCT, 2020 | Adults with mild intermittent allergic asthma exposed to 0.25 ppm ozone for 3 hours |
| Airway inflammation in mild asthma | Improved | 15 | Grade D · Crossover RCT, 2018 | 15 people with mild asthma who completed both arms |
| Wood smoke-induced airway inflammation | Mixed | 11 | Grade D · Pilot RCT, 2023 | Adult volunteers aged 18 to 45 who responded to a screening wood smoke exposure (some with allergies or mild asthma) |
Every graded row
7 rowsShowing 7 of 7 outcomes. Human trials only.
CGrade COxidative stress and inflammation markers in metabolic syndromeInflammationSome oxidative markers lowerRCT
n 80 · 2008
Mixed Gamma-tocopherol lowered lipid peroxides and nitrotyrosine vs placebo; CRP fell only with the alpha plus gamma combination; release of IL-1 and IL-6 did not change.
- Design
- RCT, n = 80, 2008
- Population
- People with metabolic syndrome, 20 per group in four groups
- Form
- Gamma-tocopherol alone or with alpha-tocopherol
- Dose
- 800 mg/day gamma-tocopherol (with or without 800 mg/day alpha-tocopherol)
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Source
- Reference 4 · PubMed 18191645 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CPremenstrual symptoms linked to water retentionPremenstrual symptomsLess fatigue and irritabilityCrossover RCT
n 51 · 2023
Improved Fatigue and irritability/anger scores and thigh circumference fell compared with placebo; 24-hour urinary sodium was 10.6 mEq higher (95% CI −0.1 to 21.4; p = 0.05).
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 51, 2023
- Population
- 51 Japanese women with premenstrual symptoms, mainly from water retention
- Form
- Gamma-tocopherol
- Dose
- 180 mg twice daily (360 mg/day) in the luteal phase
- Duration
- 7 days in each of two cycles
- Source
- Reference 2 · PubMed 37118716 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DBlood-vessel function after quitting smokingBlood vessels+1.3% flow-mediated dilationRCT
n 30 · 2013
Improved Flow-mediated dilation rose 1.3% more than with quitting alone (4.1% vs 2.8%); TNF-α and myeloperoxidase fell only with the supplement.
- Design
- RCT, n = 30, 2013
- Population
- Young smokers who quit for 7 days (16 supplement, 14 placebo)
- Form
- Gamma-tocopherol-rich supplement
- Dose
- 500 mg gamma-tocopherol/day
- Duration
- 7 days
- Source
- Reference 5 · PubMed 24075893 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DAirway inflammation in mild asthmaAirway inflammationLess airway inflammationCrossover RCT
n 15 · 2018
Improved Compared with placebo, sputum eosinophils and mucins fell, and airway neutrophil recruitment after inhaled endotoxin was lower at 6 and 24 hours.
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 15, 2018
- Population
- 15 people with mild asthma who completed both arms
- Form
- Gamma-tocopherol-enriched supplement
- Dose
- 1,200 mg gamma-tocopherol/day
- Duration
- 14 days per arm
- Source
- Reference 3 · PubMed 28736267 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DOzone-induced airway inflammation in asthmaAir pollutantsNo protection against ozoneCrossover RCT
n 15 · 2020
No effect The short course did not reduce ozone-induced airway inflammation; a transient slowing of large-airway clearance after ozone was seen with placebo but not with gamma-tocopherol.
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 15, 2020
- Population
- Adults with mild intermittent allergic asthma exposed to 0.25 ppm ozone for 3 hours
- Form
- Gamma-tocopherol-enriched geltabs
- Dose
- About 1,200 mg gamma-tocopherol every 12 hours for 4 doses
- Duration
- 2 days before each exposure
- Source
- Reference 7 · PubMed 32727225 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DWood smoke-induced airway inflammationAir pollutantsEosinophils blunted, neutrophils notPilot RCT
n 11 · 2023
Mixed Gamma-tocopherol did not reduce wood smoke-induced neutrophilic airway inflammation (the primary end point), but it prevented the rise in airway eosinophils.
- Design
- Pilot RCT, n = 11, 2023
- Population
- Adult volunteers aged 18 to 45 who responded to a screening wood smoke exposure (some with allergies or mild asthma)
- Form
- Gamma-tocopherol-enriched supplement
- Dose
- 1,253 mg gamma-tocopherol every 12 hours for 4 doses (n = 4) or 1,154 to 1,253 mg once daily for 7 days (n = 7)
- Duration
- 2 or 7 days before exposure
- Source
- Reference 8 · PubMed 37876758 (opens PubMed)
∅No effectPlatelet activation in type 2 diabetesPlateletsNo change in platelet markersRCT
n 58 · 2006
No effect Serum and cellular gamma-tocopherol rose 4-fold with mixed tocopherols, but neither treatment changed markers of platelet activation; alpha-tocopherol lowered red-cell gamma-tocopherol.
- Design
- RCT, n = 58, 2006
- Population
- 58 people with type 2 diabetes in three groups
- Form
- Mixed tocopherols (60% gamma-tocopherol) or alpha-tocopherol
- Dose
- 500 mg/day
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Source
- Reference 6 · PubMed 16400056 (opens PubMed)
What the numbers add up to
Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.
Short courses fell flat against pollutants
Standard vitamin E lowers gamma
Studied doses
Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.
Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.
Doses studied in human trials
Interactions and safety
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
What Gamma-Tocopherol meets
4 cited rows 1 tested togetherMedicines 3
Supplements and foods 1
- Measured in a human study
- Reference summary
- Tested together in a graded trial
Choose a medicine or supplement above to read its cited rows here.
Also cited: 1 tested together
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy
NIH fact sheetReference summary
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy: ODS: oncologists generally advise against antioxidant supplements during these therapies because they might reduce their effectiveness; the evidence is unsettled.
Source 1, NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (2021)
Simvastatin with niacin
NIH fact sheetReference summary
Simvastatin with niacin: ODS: an antioxidant mix that included vitamin E blunted the rise in HDL cholesterol from simvastatin plus niacin.
Source 1, NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (2021)
Warfarin and other anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs
NIH fact sheetReference summary
Warfarin and other anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs: ODS: vitamin E can inhibit platelet aggregation and antagonise vitamin K-dependent clotting factors, so large doses with these drugs can raise bleeding risk; the amount needed probably exceeds 400 IU/day.
Source 1, NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (2021)
Vitamin EVitamin E page
RCTMeasured in a human study
Alpha-tocopherol (standard vitamin E): Alpha-tocopherol supplements lowered gamma-tocopherol in blood and red cells in two trials.
Source 4, Free Radic Biol Med (2008); Source 6, Am J Clin Nutr (2006)
Tested together
Oxidative stress and inflammation markers in metabolic syndrome. Graded on the Gamma-Tocopherol page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
Interactions
4 agents| Agent | What the source says | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Medicines3 | ||
| Warfarin and other anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs | ODS: vitamin E can inhibit platelet aggregation and antagonise vitamin K-dependent clotting factors, so large doses with these drugs can raise bleeding risk; the amount needed probably exceeds 400 IU/day.1 | NIH fact sheet |
| Chemotherapy and radiotherapy | ODS: oncologists generally advise against antioxidant supplements during these therapies because they might reduce their effectiveness; the evidence is unsettled.1 | NIH fact sheet |
| Simvastatin with niacin | ODS: an antioxidant mix that included vitamin E blunted the rise in HDL cholesterol from simvastatin plus niacin.1 | NIH fact sheet |
| Other supplements1 | ||
| Alpha-tocopherol (standard vitamin E) | Alpha-tocopherol supplements lowered gamma-tocopherol in blood and red cells in two trials.46 | RCT |
Check with what you take
Kept on this device onlyAdd what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Gamma-Tocopherol and your picks, and between your picks.
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Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Gamma-Tocopherol.
Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.
Who should be careful
4 groups- Blood thinners or bleeding risk
- ODS: large vitamin E doses with warfarin or antiplatelet medicines can increase bleeding risk, especially with low vitamin K intake.1
- Cancer therapy
- ODS: oncologists generally advise against antioxidant supplements during chemotherapy or radiotherapy.1
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- No trial has tested high-dose gamma-tocopherol in pregnancy or breastfeeding. LactMed's vitamin E entry covers alpha-tocopherol: prenatal-vitamin doses safely raise milk levels, and higher doses have not been studied. NCCIH notes many supplements have not been tested in pregnant or nursing women.911
- Liver
- LiverTox rates vitamin E likelihood score E (unlikely cause of clinically apparent liver injury); its entry covers vitamin E in general, mostly alpha-tocopherol, not gamma-tocopherol alone.10
How to read the label
What to check on the Supplement Facts panel.
How to read the label
2 checksWhere to buy Gamma-Tocopherol
Products from brands we partner with that contain Gamma-Tocopherol. Check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
Gamma-Tocopherol products from partner brands
1 product Paid links · we earn a commission- HerbsProLife Extension Gamma E Mixed Tocopherols, 60 Softgels
1 softgel: 359 mg mixed tocopherols (typical profile 197 to 269 mg gamma, 72 to 108 mg delta, 31 to 43 mg alpha tocopherol), 45 IU vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) and 20 mg sesame seed lignan extract
$24.00one-timeChecked Oct 15, 2026
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.
Common questions
7 answersDoes gamma-tocopherol help asthma?
Is gamma-tocopherol helpful for PMS?
One Japanese crossover trial in 51 women found less fatigue and irritability with 360 mg a day before periods; three of the authors work for a pharmaceutical company.2
Is there an upper limit for gamma-tocopherol?
The 1,000 mg/day adult upper limit applies to supplemental alpha-tocopherol; ODS does not set a separate limit for gamma-tocopherol.1
Is gamma-tocopherol safe?
Can gamma-tocopherol interact with blood thinners?
ODS warns that large vitamin E doses with warfarin or antiplatelet drugs may raise bleeding risk.1
What is the difference between alpha- and gamma-tocopherol?
Both are vitamin E forms. Gamma is the main form in US diets, but only alpha-tocopherol is recognised to meet human needs, and the liver keeps alpha preferentially.1
Should I choose mixed tocopherols or plain vitamin E?
Sources
11 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited on this page
11 sources- 1Vitamin E: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (updated March 26, 2021)Fact sheet NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, 2021 · ods.od.nih.gov
- 2Effect of γ-tocopherol supplementation on premenstrual symptoms and natriuresis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.Crossover RCT BMC Complement Med Ther, 2023 · PMID 37118716
- 3Gamma tocopherol-enriched supplement reduces sputum eosinophilia and endotoxin-induced sputum neutrophilia in volunteers with asthma.Crossover RCT J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2018 · PMID 28736267
- 4Gamma-tocopherol supplementation alone and in combination with alpha-tocopherol alters biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in subjects with metabolic syndrome.RCT Free Radic Biol Med, 2008 · PMID 18191645
- 5γ-Tocopherol-rich supplementation additively improves vascular endothelial function during smoking cessation.RCT Free Radic Biol Med, 2013 · PMID 24075893
- 6Supplementation with mixed tocopherols increases serum and blood cell gamma-tocopherol but does not alter biomarkers of platelet activation in subjects with type 2 diabetes.RCT Am J Clin Nutr, 2006 · PMID 16400056
- 7Short course gamma tocopherol did not mitigate effects of ozone on airway inflammation in asthmatics.Crossover RCT Inhal Toxicol, 2020 · PMID 32727225
- 8A pilot randomized clinical trial of γ-tocopherol supplementation on wood smoke-induced neutrophilic and eosinophilic airway inflammation.Pilot RCT J Allergy Clin Immunol Glob, 2023 · PMID 37876758
- 9Vitamin EDatabase LactMed (NCBI Bookshelf), 2024 · ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 10Vitamin EDatabase LiverTox (NCBI Bookshelf), 2025 · ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 11Using Dietary Supplements WiselyFact sheet National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2019 · nccih.nih.gov
What changed
Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.
Change log
2 entries| Date | Change | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| all | Added a pregnancy and breastfeeding note citing LactMed's Vitamin E entry (NBK500951) and NCCIH, and a liver note citing LiverTox's Vitamin E chapter (NBK548283, likelihood score E). Turned the already-cited ozone (PMID 32727225) and wood-smoke (PMID 37876758) trials into graded rows, with n, dose and duration from the PMC full text, and widened studied doses to 2,506 mg/day (1,253 mg every 12 hours for 2 days). Added an air-pollution key fact, two FAQs, page questions and a heart goal link. PubMed search through 2026 found no newer gamma-tocopherol meta-analysis or larger trial; interactions re-checked in LactMed and LiverTox with nothing new to add. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z audit against docs/supplements/AUDIT-STANDARD.md |
| all | Initial editorial evidence review. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title, year, journal; none retracted) and each cited abstract read; numbers taken from the abstracts (full text used only where noted for participant counts, duration or funding). Funding: NIH funded the asthma and metabolic syndrome trials; Otsuka Pharmaceutical employees co-authored the premenstrual trial; the other abstracts name no funder (disclosed as not stated). Safety and interactions only from the ODS Vitamin E Health Professional Fact Sheet (updated March 26, 2021). Where to buy: Life Extension Gamma E Mixed Tocopherols (label checked 2026-10-15). | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page |
Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia. Educational information only; it is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.