The occurrence of an anti-sterility factor which was characterized as a vitamin was first reported in 1922; later in 1925, it was given the designation vitamin E. It is now known that vitamin E compromise two groups of related compounds, known as tocopherols and tocotrienols and that, in nature, there are four homologues in each group (Figure 1).

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin which is present in small amount in vegetable oil. Studies on the identity of vitamin E compunds in oils and fats have shown that by contrast with the situation in other-vegetables oils, vitamin E in palm oil mainly composed of tocotrienols (Table 1).

Main Researcher: Ab Gapor Md Top