Distribution of vitamin E within muscle

In general, the greater the amount of vitamin E fed and/or length of feeding period, the higher the tissue concentration of a-tocopherol (Table 8.2). Plasma levels of a-tocopherol are used to monitor intake of the vitamin, but are considered an adequate indicator of tissue vitamin status only during steady-state conditions (Arnold et al., 1992b). Within plasma, vitamin E is associated with lipoproteins, while in cells it is found as part of biomembranes. Traber and Kayden (1987) have reported that in human adipose tissue, tocopherol is associated primarily with adipocyte contents and not the plasmalemma. 

Arnold et al. (1992b) and Asghar et al. (1989) reported on the distribution of a-tocopherol within subcellular fractions of beef and pork, 

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