The effect of ageing on vitamin E bioavailability in humans was assessed by comparing chylomicron and plasma α‐tocopherol postprandial concentrations after a dose of vitamin E (432 or 937 IU as dl‐α‐tocopherol acetate), in eight young (20–30 years old) and eight healthy elderly men (64–72 years old). The fasting plasma α‐tocopherol concentration was significantly higher in the elderly (33 ± 2 μmol L−1) than in the young (22 ± 2 μmol L−1). In both groups, the plasma and chylomicron α‐tocopherol postprandial concentrations were significantly, approximately twofold, higher after the 937‐IU meal than after the 432‐IU meal. For both test meals, the chylomicron α‐tocopherol areas under the curve were significantly lower in the elderly than in the young subjects: 98.9 ± 16.5 (young group) vs. 55.3 ± 7.8 (elderly group) μmol L−1 h for the 937‐IU test meal and 60.4 ± 14.1 (young group) vs. 26.0 ± 7.6 (elderly group) μmol L−1 h for the 432‐IU test meal, whereas the plasma α‐tocopherol area under the curve was significantly higher in elderly than in young subjects: 337.56 ± 16.11 (937‐IU test meal) vs. 159.81 ± 35.55 (432‐IU test meal) μmol L−1 h in the young group and 709.55 ± 69.33 (937‐IU test meal) vs. 436.39 ± 41.08 (432‐IU test meal) μmol L−1 h in the elderly group. We concluded that (a) the amount of vitamin E appearing in plasma is proportional to the dose ingested (up to 937 IU); (b) the intestinal absorption of vitamin E is not increased, even possibly decreased, in the elderly; and (c) the amount of vitamin E transported by non‐chylomicron lipoproteins is apparently higher in the elderly. This suggests that vitamin E postprandial transport is affected by ageing, mainly as the consequence of age‐related modifications of lipoprotein metabolism.