TOCOPHEROLS

The different fates of α- and γ-tocopherol in the body

Figure
Both α- and γ-tocopherol are taken up into the liver, but only α-tocopherol is retained and incorporated into VLDL. γ-tocopherol is excreted in the bile. This is because only α-tocopherol is retained by α-tocopherol transfer protein (αTTP) and by tocopherol binding protein (TBP) for VLDL packaging.

The predominant vitamin E form in soya oils is γ-tocopherol, and hence this is the most abundant form in the US diet.
That form of tocopherol is not the one that is retained in the body!

Plasma tocopherol levels (μg/ml):

- - - - α-tocopherol - - - γ-tocopherol
Men - - - 6.32 - - - - - - - - 0.49
Women - 6.89 - - - - - - - - 0.55