Vitamin E and cancer.

Protection by vitamin E against free radical-induced DNA mutations appears not to be an effective occurrence. On the other hand, in vitro evidence that different tocopherols slow down cell proliferation is an accepted observation. However, such an event may not be sufficient to result in beneficial clinical outcomes. Tocopheryl phosphate, a more active, natural derivative of tocopherol, endowed with prevention and therapeutic potential, represents a possible key to the understanding of the present conflict between laboratory and clinical results.