Tocopherol concentration and fatty acid composition were determined in samples of subcutaneous adipose tissue from 33 young and 28 old women. Young women exhibited more saturated fatty acids and less monounsaturated fatty acids than old women (p < 0.01). Adipose tissue tocopherol correlated with plasma tocopherol, with r = 0.49 and p < 0.01 when the data for young and old were combined. A negative association was found between adipose tissue tocopherol and the n-3/n-6 fatty acid ratio in the old women (r = 0.42; p < 0.05), suggesting that the tocopherol content of adipose tissue is determined not only by the intake of the nutrient but also by the tissue fatty acid composition.