Vitamin
E is particularly important for the protection of our
cell membranes as well as keeping your skin, heart and
circulation, nerves, muscles and red blood cells healthy.
Antioxidants such as vitamin E protect your cells against
the effects of free radicals, potentially damaging by-products
of your body's metabolism. Free radicals can cause cell
damage that may lead to the development of cardiovascular
disease and cancer.
Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) Information
Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) Information
By: Dr. George Obikoya
Vitamin E is a fat soluble antioxidant vitamin that helps
to neutralize potentially damaging free radicals in our
body. It exists in eight different forms, d-alpha-tocopherol
being the most active form and one of the most powerful
biologically active antioxidants. Each form has a different
level of potency (functional use) in the body. The tocopherol
and tocotrienol subfamilies are each composed of alpha,
beta, gamma and delta vitamins having unique biological
effects, with generally declining activity; e.g. delta
is far less active than the alpha form.
As
a supplement, Vitamin E has a number of health benefits
for the body. Vitamin E is particularly important for
the protection of our cell membranes as well as keeping
your skin, heart and circulation, nerves, muscles and
red blood cells healthy. Antioxidants such as vitamin
E protect your cells against the effects of dangerous
free radicals, potentially damaging by-products of your
body’s metabolism. Free radicals can cause cell damage
that may lead to the development of cardiovascular disease
and cancer.
One
or more members of the vitamin E family may also reduce
cellular aging, inhibit the potentially damaging peroxynitrite
radical, inhibit melanoma (skin cancer) cell growth, prevent
abnormal blood clotting, synergize with vitamin A to protect
the lungs against pollutants, protect nervous system and
retina, lower the risk of ischemic and coronary heart
disease, lower the risk of certain kinds of cancer, protect
immune function and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease,
particularly if high doses are taken in combination with
vitamin C. Vitamins E, A, and C can all be found in a
good liquid multivitamin.
Vitamin
E also may block the formation of nitrosamines, which
are carcinogens formed in the stomach from nitrites consumed
in the diet. It also may protect you against the development
of cancers by enhancing immune function. Some evidence
links higher intake of vitamin E with a decreased incidence
of prostate cancer and breast cancer. As you can tell,
Vitamin E is a very beneficial vitamin!
Gamma
tocopherol is only 10 to 30% as strong as alpha tocopherol,
yet recent studies have shown it to be essential for maintaining
the health of our cell membranes, especially if alpha
tocopherol is being supplemented. New studies continue
to elucidate the unique benefits of individual members
of the vitamin E family. For example, tocotrienols have
been shown to lower cholesterol, prevent LDL oxidation,
and reduce atherosclerotic plaque formation more effectively
than tocopherols. For these and other reasons, the original
definition of vitamin E now includes all eight family
members and the related compounds that convert to them
in the body.
Cataracts,
growths on the lens of our eye that cloud vision, increase
the risk of disability and blindness in aging adults.
Antioxidants may prevent or delay cataract growth. Studies
have shown that lens clarity, which is used to diagnose
cataracts, was better in regular users of liquid vitamin
E supplements and in persons with higher blood levels
of vitamin E.1
100
IU or more of supplemental vitamin E a day has been shown
to reduce the risk of heart attacks in healthy people.
If you have pre-existing coronary artery disease it is
recommended you take 800 to 1600 IU a day of Vitamin E.
Vitamin E also may help prevent the formation of blood
clots, which could lead to a heart attack. Studies have
linked lower rates of heart disease with higher vitamin
E intake.
Low-fat
diets can substantially decrease vitamin E intakes if
food choices are not carefully made to enhance alpha-tocopherol
intakes. If you are taking anti-clotting medication, consult
with your doctor before taking Vitamin E. Ingestion of
total vitamin E products in excess of 1200 IU daily may
interfere with absorption and metabolism of vitamins A
and K.
Abetalipoproteinemia
is a rare inherited disorder of fat metabolism that results
in poor absorption of dietary fat and vitamin E Individuals
with abetalipoproteinemia may be prescribed special vitamin
E supplements by a physician to treat this disorder.
Some
prefer cold-water dispersible dry powder vitamin E supplements
in the form of alpha tocopheryl succinate or acetate because
the cold-water dispersible forms are efficiently absorbed
even when taken on an empty stomach or with a low-fat
meal. Note that the non-cold water dispersible (oil) forms
of vitamin E may be poorly absorbed unless taken with
several grams of fats or oils.
Cold-water
dispersible vitamin E is twice as expensive as soybean
oil E-acetate, but (no surprise here) the cold-water dispersible
forms are more efficiently absorbed. It is important that
you know how well the vitamin E you are about to buy absorbs
into the bloodstream. Liquid vitamin forms absorb 5 times
better than do pill forms. Cold-water dispersible vitamin
E, whether in a succinate or acetate form, always comes
in a white dry powder, while noncold-water dispersible
natural and synthetic acetate forms of vitamin E are always
in thick brown oil.
Vitamin
E deficiency is rare in humans although likely to occur
under certain specific situations; namely, when an individual
cannot absorb dietary fat, was born premature, is a very
low birth weight infants (birth weights less than 1500
grams, or 3 1/2 pounds), and in individuals with rare
disorders of fat metabolism . A vitamin E deficiency is
usually characterized by neurological problems due to
poor nerve conduction. The greater problem by far is not
a gross deficiency but low vitamin E levels over many
decades. This is one of the reasons that people get diseases
and other maladies!
Vitamin
E is one of the most beneficial vitamins for you. It is
important that you take it or find a way to obtain it
through foods daily to ensure that you derive the most
benefit from this all-important vitamin. This is more
so if you cannot absorb fat or are on a low fat diet as
some dietary fat is needed for the absorption of vitamin
E from the gastrointestinal tract. You will also need
additional vitamin E supplements if you are diagnosed
with cystic fibrosis, have had part or all of your stomach
removed, or have malabsorption problems such as Crohn’s
disease. People who cannot absorb fat often pass greasy
stools or have chronic diarrhea, called steatorrhea.
Lastly,
it is important to note that Vitamin E is naturally an
oil, and is (compared to other nutrients) a bit expensive
so many pill based multivitamins skimp and give you a
very small amount (40 - 60 IU's) of vitamin E a day. Your
average Centrum Performance gives you just 60 IU's a day
- so consider extra supplementation or find a high quality
multivitamin that gives you 400 IU's instead of just 40
or 60. Why? As just one example, the clinical benefits
of Vitamin E's protective effect against Alzheimer's disease
does not appear until at least 400 IU's a day, even though
the US RDA is just 30 IU's per day.
A
good multivitamin is the foundation of health and nutrition.
Take a look at our scientific reviews of many of the popular
brands for factors such as ingredients, areas of improvement,
quality level, and overall value. If you are looking for
a high quality liquid multivitamin, we suggest that you
take a look at the Multivitamin Product Comparisons.
http://www.vitamins-nutrition.org/vitamins/index.html
