Vitamins are defined as essential organic compounds required in very small amounts that are involved in fundamental functions of the body. They are categorized as water soluble or fat soluble. Vitamins A, D, E and K are the fat soluble vitamins. The B complex and C vitamins are water soluble.
Primary Function
Vitamin E, known as tocopherol, primarily functions as an antioxidant, which prevents cellular tissues from being broken down by oxygen. The cell membrane contains a phospholipid bilayer. Vitamin E protects the integrity and structure of the cell membrane by preventing the breakdown of the fatty acids within the cell membrane.
Secondary Functions
Vitamin E is also known to affect cholesterol metabolism by reducing plasma cholesterol levels. Suppression of tumor growth can be attributed to a diet rich in vitamin E. However, a diet high in vitamin E has not been proven to lower the risk of cancer. Consult your physician prior to using vitamin E for tumor growth suppression.
Recommendations
The Recommended Daily Allowance, or RDA, of vitamin E for healthy men and women over the age of 14 is 15 mg per day. Plant and vegetable oils, milk, eggs, muscle meats, fish, cereal, barley, rice, oats and green leafy vegetables are excellent sources of vitamin E.
Deficiencies
Deficiency in vitamin E is rare. One indicator of a deficiency is hemolytic anemia, a disease in which the lipid membranes of red blood cells are oxidized, resulting in the loss of red blood cells. In older children, vitamin E deficiencies can lead to abnormal synthesis of myelin, the fatty covering of nerve cells that helps transmit messages throughout the body. Deficiencies in vitamin E are found in premature and low-birthweight populations, as well as people with malabsorption syndromes.
References
- "Advanced Nutrtion and Human Metabolism (third edition)"; James Goff and Sareen Gropper; 2000
- "Basic Nutrition and Diet Therapy"; Sue Rodwell Williams; 2001
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