生育酚主要有四种衍生物，按甲基位置分为α、β、γ和δ四种。与生育酚相关的化合物生育三烯酚在取代基不同时活性是一定的，但生育酚的活性会明显降低。下为二者结构简式：
下表列出用以下官能团取代后生育三烯酚与生育酚的活性比：
Cyclooxygenase
γ-Tocopherol (D-γ-Tocopherol) is well absorbed and accumulates to a significant degree in some human tissues; it is metabolized, however, largely to 2,7,8-trimethyl-2-(beta-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman (gamma-CEHC), which is mainly excreted in the urine. Plasma concentrations of γ-Tocopherol (D-γ-Tocopherol) are inversely associated with the incidence of cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer.