Vitamin E

What is Vitamin E?
-fat-soluble vitamin

-vitamin E is a family of eight antioxidants: four tocopherols (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-) and four tocotrienols (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-)

-each form has its own biological activity, which is the measure of potency or functional use in the body

-alpha-tocopherol is the only form of vitamin E that is actively maintained in the human body

-it is the form of vitamin E found in the largest quantities in blood and tissues

Function of Vitamin E
-protect your skin from ultraviolet light

-prevent cell damage from free radicals

-prevention of oxidative stress:-
~oxygen is risky substance inside the body because it can make molecules overly reactive, it can damage the cell structures around them

~it helps prevent oxidative stress by working together with vitamin C, glutathione, selenium and vitamin B3

-allow your cells to communicate effectively

-help protect against prostate cancer and Alzheimer's disease

-antioxidant

-supporting healthy skin

~lightening without causing damage





-protection against cancers

Deficiency Symtomps
Rare in humans. Three specific situations when a vitamin E deficiency is likely to occur:-
-persons who cannot absorb dietary fat due to an inability to secrete bile

-neurological symptoms, including impaired balance & coordination (ataxia)

-injury to the sensory nerves (peripheral neuropathy)

-muscle weakness (myopathy)

-damage to the retina of the eye (pigmented retinopathy) (cataracts)



-cardiovascular disease

-cancers

-digestive system problems: nutrients are poorly absorbed from digestive tract
~pancreatic disease

~gallbladder disease



~liver disease

~coeliac disease

Factors Might Contribute to a Deficiency of Vitamin E
-poor absorption of fat in the digestive tract




-premature birth

Medications Affect Vitamin E
Following medications can reduce the body's supply of vitamin E:-
-anticonvulsant drugs (like Dilantin)

-cholesterol-lowering drugs (like probucol, cholestyramine, clofibrate, colestipol, gemfibrozil)

-long-term, regular use of mineral oil (e.g. non-prescription laxative)

Nutrient Interactions
-recycling of vitamin E in the body is intricately connected to four other nutrients:-
~vitamin C- keeps vitamin E in its metabolically active form

~glutathione-keep vitamin C in its active form

~selenium (micromineral) (in a special form called NADPH)-keep glutathione in its active form

~vitamin B3 (in a special form called NADPH)-keep glutathione in its active form

-vitamin E cannot have its optimal effect unless it is also combine with these other nutrients

Health Conditions that Require Special Emphasis on Vitamin E
Vitamin E may play a role in the prevention and / or treatment of the following health conditions:-
-acne

-Alzheimer's disease

-angina pectoris (chest pain)





-asthma

-atherosclerosis

-breast cancer

-diabetes

-epilepsy

-fibrocystic breast disease

-gout

-Graves' disease

-infertility (male)

-inflammatory bowel disease



-macular degeneration

-menopouse

-migraine

-multiple sclerosis

-oral cancer

-osteoarthritis

-Parkinson's disease

-peptic ulcer

-pheriperal vascular disease

-PMS

-pregnancy



-induces hypertension

-Psoriasis

-Rheumatoid arthritis

-seuile cataracts

-squamous cancer

-stroke

-tardive dyskinesia

-vaginitis