The term Vitamin E describes a family of eight fat-soluble antioxidants that protect the body from the damaging effects of free radicals, the unstable substances that can harm and compromise the integrity of individual cells. Vitamin E food sources include vegetable oil, wheat germ, corns, nuts, green leafy vegetables, olives, asparagus and soybeans. Vitamin E fortified food products such as margarine and some dietary food supplements may also serve as a good source of this fat-soluble vitamin. Before adding vitamin E supplements to your diet, discuss possible side effects and drug interactions with your physician.
Function
Vitamin E, in the form of alpha-tocopherol, appears to be a very important antioxidant that protects individual cells from the damage of free radicals, the by-product of metabolic functions within the body. As mentioned by Linus Pauling Institute, the fat tissues are most vulnerable to the damaging effects of free radicals. Since vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, it can serve as the best antioxidant to prevent the chain of reactions that result from fat cell destruction.
However, the usefulness of vitamin E is not limited to its function as an antioxidant. Other uses of Vitamin E include inhibition of platelet clotting to prevent thrombus or blood clot formation and enhancement of vasodilation, the relaxation of blood vessel walls that results in the increase in the diameter of the blood vessel circumference. The Linus Pauling Institute also mentions that vitamin E can affect the inflammatory regulation and immunity of the body against infectious diseases and protect the heart from the development of certain cardiac problems.
Types
The Office of Dietary Supplements mentions that there are eight clinical forms of vitamin E. These include the alpha, beta, gamma and delta-tocopherol and the alpha, beta, gamma and delta-tocotrienol. Among the eight clinical forms, alpha-tocopherol appears to be the most important form needed for the human body functions. According to Linus Pauling Institute, the gamma-tocopherol is also present in significant amounts in the human blood and urine. However its exact function remains unclear.
Conditions
Vitamin E administration appears to have a significant value in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. In fact, as mentioned by Linus Pauling Institute, some observational studies have shown that vitamin E can dramatically decrease the incidence of non-fatal heart attacks by seventy-seven percent. Furthermore, chronic renal failure patients were observed to have a significantly decreased risk for heart attacks with regular alpha-tocopherol intake.
The Linus Pauling Institute also mentioned that diabetic patients may benefit from the use of alpha-tocopherol because diabetes appears to cause significant oxidative stress, the damage brought about by free radicals. However, more clinical trials are still needed to establish this fact.
Patients suffering from the effects of Alzheimer's disease may also benefit from the administration of vitamin E, according to Linus Pauling Institute. In fact, as mentioned by this source, a large-scale clinical trial proved that the progression of Alzheimer's disease may become slower with the regular use of this vitamin.
Warnings
High doses of vitamin E may result in an impaired blood clotting mechanism leading to the increased tendency to hemorrhage, states the Linus Pauling Institute. Thus, the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine recommends that the highest tolerable dosage of vitamin E should only be 1000 milligrams per day to prevent the occurrence of uncontrollable bleeding. Some surgeons also advise their patients to stop taking vitamin E supplements about a month before an elective surgery to avoid bleeding problems during the operation.
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