Common Name: Vitamin E
Synonyms: the alpha, beta, delta and gamma tocopherols and the alpha, beta, delta and gamma tocotrienols.

Overview:

Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin. In its natural state, vitamin E has two forms, tocopherol and tocotrienols. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant and is an essential (a nutrient required for normal body functioning and cannot be made by the body) nutrient in humans. Vitamin E works in fats and lipids while its counterpart vitamin C works against free radicals in water. Vitamin E helps to eliminate the free radicals that con contribute to the development of heart disease, cancer and many inflammatory conditions like arthritis, as well as the tissue damage caused by the toxins and pollutants present in the environment.

A vitamin E deficiency is often seen in conditions where the body is unable to properly breakdown fats, such as pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease as well as gallbladder disease. The symptoms of a vitamin E deficiency include muscle weakness, loss of muscle mass, abnormal eye movements, impaired vision, and an unsteady gait. Severe vitamin deficiency can even lead to serial miscarriages as well as premature births.
All forms of vitamin E have antioxidant qualities. It has also been found to decrease the ability of platelets to clump, therefore preventing blood clots. It also also been shown to stabilize cell membranes, strengthens the immune system, protects the nervous system and may have antiviral properties.

Benefits

Studies have shown the many benefits of vitamin E.

1. Vitamin E appears to inhibit platelets from sticking together and forming blood clots. Tests, in tissue culture, shows that vitamin E lessens the ability of platelets to stick together. Vitamin E has also been found to decrease the production of thrombin. Thrombin is what caused platelets to bind together to form a clot.
2. A large number f studies that include in vitro (in the test tube) and animal studies as well as epidemiological (the study of the causes, distribution, and control of disease in populations) and intervention studies are showing the importance of vitamin E in preventing cardiovascular disease. Vitamin E has been shown to prevent the destruction of LDL (good cholesterol) in various studies. Other studies show that vitamin E acts on the ability of the blood to clot, platelet clumping and the relaxation of arterial walls. These all lead to reduction in cardiovascular risk.

In an animal study, rabbits with high lipid levels were supplemented with vitamin E. Those that received the supplement showed a decrease in the breakdown of LDL into HDL (bad cholesterol). Rabbits on high cholesterol diets that were supplemented with vitamin E showed normal arteries while those who did not receive the supplements did not. Animal studies have continued to show that vitamin E supplements can reduce the formation of atheromas (the accumulation of fat deposits) by 25 to 50%.

Again epidemiological studies have sown the connection with low-vitamin E levels and an increased risk of heart disease. In a large case-controlled study the results suggested that the higher the concentrations of vitamin E in the bodies fat stores the lower the risk of heart attack.

In the Nurses Health Study, 8700 nurses that were free of cardiovascular disease at the beginning of the study, a 34% reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease was seen in the women with the highest intake of vitamin E when compared to those with the lowest

1. It has been noted that people who develop cancer have lower levels of vitamin E. In population based trials, diets rich in vitamin E have shown a reduced risk of colon cancer.. Laboratory studies have also shown that vitamin E inhibits the growth of cancer cells in vitro and in animal studies.
2. People with photodermatitis (an allergic reaction to UV rays from the sun) showed less sensitivity to the sun when treated with vitamin E and C supplements as compared to no treatment.
3. Vitamin E may be helpful in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Fat soluble vitamins easily cross into the brain. Vitamin E’s antioxidant properties coupled with it ability to reduce plaque build up may help in improving the cognitive function of healthy individuals as well has those with dementia.
4. The antioxidant properties of vitamin E may protect against cataract formation as well as ARMD (age related macular degeneratio

Dietary Sources

Wheat germ is the best source of vitamin E. It is also found in:

	Soybean, Cottonseed and Canola Oils		Kale, Turnips, Collards, and Mustard Greens
	Sweet Potatoes		Avocados
Asparagus

Recommended Dosage:

The U.S. recommendations for daily intake of vitamin E are:

1. Infants 0–6 months, 4 mg
   7–12 months,5 mg
2. Children 1–3 years, 6 mg
   4–8 years, 7 mg
   9–13 years, 11 mg
3. Males and females 14 years and older, 15 mg
4. Pregnant women, 15 mg
5. Nursing women, 19 mg

Vitamin E supplements should be taken along with selenium.
Doses of vitamin E over 1000mg can cause diarrhea, gas, nausea, heart palpitations and tendency to bleed easily.

Contra-indications

Vitamin E can inhibit the uptake of:

1. Tricyclic antidepressants such as desimpramine uptake are inhibited by vitamin E supplements.
2. antipsychotic medication chlorpromazine.
3. Beta blocker for hypertension
4. Chloroquine an antimaleria medication

Cholesterol lowering medications may decrease the absorption of vitamin E

Vitamin E has shown to be helpful:

1. Preventing the toxicity and side effects from AZT a medication used to treats HIV and AIDS.
2. Vitamin E may provide antioxidant benefits to women taking birth control pills or on hormone replacement therapy.
3. Taken along with vitamin C counteracted the cholesterol raising effects of Tamoxifen

Vitamin E has been shown to be safe when taken with aspirin.

Vitamin E taken at the same time as warfarin may lead to abnormal bleeding.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult a health care provider before starting any supplement.

Web References

1. http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/vit_0265.shtml
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_E
3. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/index.html

Printed Reference Material

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