抄録
Simon's metabolites (α-tocopheronic acid and its γ-lactone) have long been thought to be the main metabolites of α-tocopherol in urine. Based on these metabolites a hypothetical scheme for the biological formation was proposed (via the tocopheryl quinone route). From the initial detection of a carboxyethyl hydoxychroman (CEHC)-type metabolite of δ-tocopherol (via the retention of the chroman ring route) in rat udne, corresponding metabolites of α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol were subsequently found. It is particularly interesting that γ-CEHC (LLU-α) was found in human urine as a natriuretic factor. Whether Simon's metabolites are physiologically significant or are artifacts due to postchemical treatment is not certain at preseot. To identify them as conjugated forms is wananted. The lack of intermediary metabolites of vitamin E homologues still remains as a missing link of vitamin E catabolism.
