Tocopherols in Flaxseed

The tocopherol content of oil from eight flaxseed cultivars grown at four locations in western Canada for 3 years was determined to examine genotypic and environmental effects. Flaxseed contained an average of 9.3 mg/100 g of total tocopherol in the seed, with γ-tocopherol representing 96−98% of the total tocopherols. The level of tocopherol in flaxseed was cultivar specific and regulated by environmental conditions as indicated by the strong cultivar × location × year interaction. Seasonal differences in total tocopherol content were significant, although the contribution of the δ isomer was constant at 2.5% of the total tocopherol. In flaxseed, tocopherol content was weakly but positively associated with oil content. The ratio of the tocopherol isomers α, γ, and δ in flaxseed hull at 17:61:22 was different from that in the seed.