Your body needs the right balance of fluids, vitamins and minerals to function properly. Each of these items supports you body in a unique way. Eating a diet that contains a wide variety of foods will help you to meet your needs. One of the important vitamins your body needs is the vitamin E. This vitamin keeps you healthy by playing a role in many areas of the body. While a deficiency is rare, it is important to make sure you are getting enough in your diet.
Identification
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin. It is found in many foods and can be taken in supplement form. It is absorbed by the liver and small intestine. Vitamin E deficiency is rare. It can occur in individuals who have difficulty absorbing fat. Complications of a deficiency include peripheral neuropathy, ataxia, skeletal myopathy, retinopathy and problems with your immune system.
Benefits
Vitamin E's primary function is as an antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances that can protect your body against free radicals. As your body uses oxygen, free radicals are formed. Free radicals are substances that have unpaired electrons, and they are highly reactive. These reactive chemicals can damage your cells and may contribute to diseases such as cancer and heart problems. Antioxidants can slow or prevent the oxidation of these harmful substances and reverse or stop the damage.
Significance
Vitamin E has also been shown to prevent the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins, or LDLs, which are the bad kind of cholesterol since they help your body store excess cholesterol in the body. Too much cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis and heart disease. The right amount of vitamin E may protect you from this.
Other Functions
Your immune system relies on vitamin E to function properly. In addition, this vitamin plays a role in cell communication, gene expression and other metabolic processes. This vitamin is also often added to sunscreen since it appears to provide protection from the sun. It is thought that vitamin E can help to block harmful UVB rays.
Considerations
Vitamin E is currently being investigated for its role in managing or preventing Alzheimer's, some forms of cancer and some kinds of seizures. Much more research is still needed in these areas. See the link to the Mayo Clinic in the Resources area for a full list of vitamin E trials and their outcomes.
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