Tocopherols
<p ><b>Tocopherols</b> (or <b>TCP</b>) are a class of chemical compounds of which many have <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_E" title="Vitamin E" >vitamin E</a> activity. </p>
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It is a series of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_compound" title="Organic compound" >organic compounds</a> consisting of various methylated <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenol" title="Phenol" >phenols</a>. Because the vitamin activity was first identified in 1936 from a dietary fertility factor in rats, it was given the name "tocopherol" from the Greek words "τόκος" [birth], and "φέρειν", [to bear or carry] meaning in sum "to carry a pregnancy," with the ending "-ol" signifying its status as a chemical alcohol.</p>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha-Tocopherol" title="Alpha-Tocopherol" >alpha-Tocopherol</a> is the main source found in supplements and in the European diet, where the main dietary sources are olive and sunflower oils,<sup id="cite_ref-Wagner_et_al.2C_2004_0-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tocopherol#cite_note-Wagner_et_al.2C_2004-0" >[1]</a></sup> </p>
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while <i>gamma</i>-tocopherol is the most common form in the American diet due to a higher intake of soybean and corn oil.,<sup id="cite_ref-Wagner_et_al.2C_2004_0-1" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tocopherol#cite_note-Wagner_et_al.2C_2004-0" >[1]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-gamma_1-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tocopherol#cite_note-gamma-1" >[2]</a></sup></p>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tocotrienol" title="Tocotrienol" >Tocotrienols</a>, which are related compounds, also have vitamin E activity. All of these various derivatives with vitamin activity may correctly be referred to as "vitamin E." </p>
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Tocopherols and tocotrienols are fat-soluble <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioxidant" title="Antioxidant" >antioxidants</a> but also seem to have many other functions in the body.</p>