Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that has many important roles in the body. It naturally occurs in eight chemical forms, although only one -- alpha-tocopherol -- can be used by the human body; any other forms you ingest are filtered by the liver and excreted. The recommended daily intake for vitamin E in adults is 15 mg daily. Vitamin E is found in many foods, either naturally or added. Wheat germ, sunflower seeds, almonds, sunflower oil and safflower oil are among the most concentrated food sources. Alpha-tocopherol is also available in supplement form.
Heart Disease
Several studies indicate that vitamin E can prevent or delay the onset of heart disease. One such study was the Cambridge Heart Antioxidant Study, noted in a review article in the February 2005 issue of "The Journal of Nutrition." This study looked at 2,002 patients who were at high risk for cardiovascular events. The patients were randomly assigned to either receive a vitamin E supplement or a placebo daily over the period of 1.5 years. The results showed a 47 percent reduction in death from coronary artery disease in the group that took the vitamin E. However, according to the same review article, clinical trials have been mixed; not all studies found a correlation between vitamin E supplementation and decreased morbidity or mortality rates from heart disease.
Cancer
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that may help reduce the risk of cancer. Antioxidants work to prevent cancer by attacking free radicals, which damage cells and leave them more prone to cancer. High levels of antioxidants in the blood have been shown to prevent and help fight cancer. Although study results specific to vitamin E are mixed and ongoing, according to the National Institutes of Health, physicians at The Cancer Project have found that supplementation significantly reduces the risk of colon, prostate and lung cancer, especially when levels in your blood are already low.
Eye Disease
The effects of eye damage by free radicals may worsen eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and night blindness. Because of this, antioxidants such as vitamin E can play a major role. Studies such as the Age-Related Eye Disease Study -- as reported by the National Institutes of Health -- found that the progression of age-related eye diseases is greatly slowed in people taking a daily mixture of vitamin E, vitamin C, beta-carotene, zinc and copper. However, studies are ongoing examine the exact relationship between vitamin E and eye health.
Cognition
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health believe that free radical damage to the brain may cause neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, it is hypothesized that vitamin E supplementation may slow the progression. In a clinical trial reviewed by the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements, vitamin E supplementation in addition to drug therapy significantly reduced cognitive decline in patients over a 2-year period compared to those receiving a placebo. Additional studies have supported this finding, although research continues.
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