Vitamin E is one of 13 essential vitamins required by the body for normal functioning. Chemically, it relates to cholesterol because both contain fat. Vitamin E provides several health benefits including immune system support. It also plays a role in cholesterol synthesis in the body. Because of these effects, you should discuss taking vitamin E with your doctor if you have high cholesterol or are on cholesterol-lowering medications.
Function
Vitamin E is fat-soluble and found in oils, nuts and avocados. This nutrient is also a powerful antioxidant that protects cells against damage caused by free radicals. Vitamin E supports red blood cell formation and vitamin K use by the body. Vitamin K is essential for proper blood clotting. Because it is fat-soluble, vitamin E store in the body. For this reason, large doses of vitamin E can be toxic. In addition, its role as an antioxidant affects cholesterol synthesis directly and indirectly.
Effects on Cholesterol
Cholesterol is so vital to body function that the body produces the quantities it needs in the liver and in the brain, producing it from fatty acids. Vitamin E protects fatty acids from destruction by free radicals, thus supporting the healthy synthesis of cholesterol in the body. It also protects LDL, or bad cholesterol, from oxidizing or chemically combining with oxygen. This form of LDL can lead to atherosclerosis and heart disease. Vitamin E may also affect cholesterol synthesis in the body due to its unique properties. A 2007 study by Cornell University in New York found that vitamin E inhibited new formation of cholesterol because of its influence on genes related to cholesterol synthesis.
Evidence
Scientists have mixed evidence on whether vitamin E prevents heart disease. A 2005 study by Harvard Medical School found that taking vitamin E supplements did not lower the risk of heart disease in healthy women. Yet, a 2011 study published in "Nutrition and Metabolism" found that vitamin E supplementation improved cholesterol after six months in individuals over age 50. Another concern with vitamin E is its effect on HDL, or good cholesterol. The University of Maryland Medical Center cautions against taking antioxidant combinations with vitamin E if you are taking cholesterol-lowering drugs because they may impair the medication's ability to raise HDL.
Cell Membrane Maintenance
Indirectly, vitamin E supports cholesterol synthesis by its ability to protect cell membranes. By protecting fatty acids from free radical damage, vitamin E helps maintain the integrity of cell membranes. Free radicals are byproducts of normal metabolism as well as exposure to environmental toxins like tobacco smoke. Ongoing maintenance of the cell membranes is therefore essential. You should consult your doctor before supplementing with vitamin E if you are on blood pressure medication or a blood thinner.
References
- Medline Plus; Vitamins; March 9, 2009
- Linus Pauling Institute; Vitamin E; Victoria J. Drake; June 2008
- "Biochemistry"; Novel Transcriptional Activities of Vitamin E: Inhibition of Cholesterol Biosynthesis; S. Valastyan, et al.; December 2007
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Vitamin E in the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: The Women's Health Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial; I. Lee, et al.; July 2005
- "Nutrition and Metabolism"; Tocotrienol Rich Fraction Supplementation Improved Lipid Profile and Oxidative Status in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Study; S. Chin, et al.; June 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Vitamin E; December 14, 2009
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