Vitamin E
The Latest Health Extracts From The World Of Research Via The Web
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects body tissue from damage caused by unstable substances called free radicals. Free radicals can harm cells, tissues, and organs. They are believed to lay a role in certain conditions associated with aging. 1
Vitamin E is integral part of cellular membranes whose main role is to defend the cell against oxidation. Within cells and organelles (e.g. The vitamin also plays a very important function in lending red blood cells (RBC) flexibility as they make their way through the arterial network. Vitamin E has not yet been shown to have any significant functions outside of these two roles. 2
What is vitamin E? Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that works to protect cells in the body from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive substances that result from normal metabolism as well as from exposure to factors in the environment like cigarette smoke and ultraviolet light. They cause damage to body cells by attacking the cell’s membranes, proteins and DNA and ultimately contribute to the development of health problems such as heart disease and cancer. 3
However, oxygen can also produce toxic substances and these highly reactive substances, called “free radicals” can combine with other molecules in the body, such as heavy metals or other foreign chemicals resulting in internal cellular destruction. These free radicals are unstable compounds with an unpaired or extra electron in their chemical make-up looking for an electron to become stable. The antioxidant offers this electron that the free radical is looking for, rendering it stable, preventing it from becoming destructive to living cells. 4
Natural vitamin E exists in eight different forms, four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. All feature a chromanol ring, with a hydroxyl group that can donate a hydrogen atom to reduce free radicals and a hydrophobic side chain which allows for penetration into biological membranes. Both the tocopherols and tocotrienols occur in alpha, beta, gamma and delta forms, determined by the number of methyl groups on the chromanol ring. Each form has slightly different biological activity. 5
Palm oil is loaded with antioxidants, particularly vitamin E. Antioxidants protect your body from highly reactive free radicals that damage cells. The results of oxidative damage to cells in the human body include heart attack, stroke, aging–and cancer. 6
Unsaturated fatty acids in foods and the lipid (fat) membranes of body cells are very vulnerable to oxidative damage. Antioxidants such as vitamin E interrupts the oxidation of these membranes by giving electrons to the free radicals before they can cause damage. 7
Antioxidants such as vitamin E act to protect your cells against the effects of free radicals, which are potentially damaging by-products of energy metabolism. Free radicals can damage cells and may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Studies are underway to determine whether vitamin E, through its ability to limit production of free radicals, might help prevent or delay the development of those chronic diseases. Vitamin E has also been shown to play a role in immune function, in DNA repair, and other metabolic processes [2-3]. 8
Vitamin supplements alone will not take the place of a good diet and will not provide energy. Your body also needs other substances found in food such as protein, minerals, carbohydrates, and fat. Vitamins themselves often cannot work without the presence of other foods. For example, small amounts of fat are needed so that vitamin E can be absorbed into the body. 9
Support for the role of vitamin E in heart disease prevention has come from observational studies, particularly 2 cohort studies which were published in 1993. In the 1st study, the Nurses’ Health Study, the researchers concluded that among 83,234 middle-aged women who participated in the study, there was a 40% reduced risk of coronary artery disease for those who took vitamin E supplements compared to those who did not (New England Journal of Medicine 1993;328: 1444-9). The 2nd study, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, involved over 39,000 males and showed evidence of a significant association between a high intake of vitamin E from supplements and a lower risk of heart disease (New England Journal of Medicine 1993; 328:1450-1456). 10
Controversy has arisen over the years with regard to what these synthetic fat preservatives are doing to the animals that eat them over an extended period of time, in other words what are the long term effects of the synthetic antioxidants on the fat cells within the body of the cat or dog? Some pet food manufacturers are now using antioxidants such as vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) and vitamin C (ascorbic acid and/or sodium ascobate) to preserve the fats in their dry pet foods and are calling these products “Natural Cat or Dog Food”. 11
In practice, the scientists believe that vitamin E often plays the first role in intervening against free radicals and preventing membranes from becoming oxidized - but in the process, vitamin E itself can be made into a radical. If adequate vitamin C is present, it can help the vitamin E return to non-radical form. But without adequate levels of vitamin C in the body, vitamin E in tissues can quickly decline, Traber said. 12
Vitamin E may offer some benefits in exposure to high altitude. Antioxidant supplementation (vitamin E with beta carotene, vitamin C, selenium, and zinc) may improve ventilatory threshold at high altitudes; however, antioxidants may not reduce inflammation after exercise at high altitudes. More research is needed before conclusions can be drawn. 13
The other R, R, R tocopherol vitamins are slowly being recognized as research begins to elucidate their additional roles in the human body. Many naturopathic and orthomolecular medicine advocates suggest that vitamin E supplements contain at least 20% by weight of the other natural vitamin E isomers. 14
Recognition of the antioxidant properties of vitamin E have led to a rather huge interest in its use to reducing the risk of many degenerative diseases, including cancer, atherosclerosis, chronic inflammation and cataracts. At this time it seems fair to state that, other than consuming a balanced diet that would be expected to provide adequate vitamin E, there is little indication that vitamin E supplementation will provide substantive protection from such diseases. 15
References
The Panacea offers these health-extracts to help people investigate health-related subjects in greater depth using the references given in each paragraph. Kindly note that these are current extracts from the web, meant for research, and that these are not meant to be medical advise. For all your health-related needs you must consult trained and licensed personnel.
Important posts in Nutrition & Essentials
comments
Leave a Reply