I am a huge Adele Davis fan. I tend to listen to people if they have at least a Masters degree in biochemistry, which she had. She compiled many studies which were conducted over a 30 to 40 year span which proved that d-alpha was the best and that the mixed tocohperols were not to be used because of their instability. She also noted that natural vitamins were to be preferred.
Interesting. I will have to think twice before taking any Vit E. If d-alpha displaces other forms of Vit E that are critical to Vit E's benefits (more recent research), while mixed tocopherols / tocotrienols are unstable, rendering them useless, if not dangerous (Adle Davis' older research), perhaps supplementing Vit. E ISN'T wise after all. At least until I determine for myself what seems to be the better bet.
That of course depends on another question: Have manufacturing mehtods for Vit E supplements improved in any way that has resulted in greater stability for the mixed tocopherols / tocotrienols? Has the answer to Adele Davis' primary problem with the mixed form been discovered? If so, then paying attention to the newer research might make more sense then hanging on to old orthodoxy.
This is what makes supplementation so difficult. It is an ongoing process that requires constant vigilance. Staying on the cutting edge sometimes means we make mistakes.
I don't know the answer and I've remained slightly ignorant on Vitamin E, perhaps because it is big enough to cause more controverey than some of the stuff that is so new that it hasn't ganered serious debate (though often lots of research anyway).
I do know that there are many supplements now available, in a stable form, that years ago could not be produced in a cost effective manner (at least the higher quality or important form of the compound), or kept stable enough to make widescale distribution practical.
Thanks for the response. I plan to look into it.