VITAMIN E

Facts

• Vitamin E is a group of fat-soluble compounds and includes seven forms of tocopherols found in nature: alpha, beta, delta, epsilon, eta, gamma, and zeta. Alpha tocopherol is the most potent form. The word tocopherol is derived from the Greek word "tos" for childbirth; "phero," which means to "bring forth" a reference to the vitamin's role in enhancing animal fertility.1
• Natural vitamin E is d-alpha tocopherol. Synthetic vitamin is a mixture of both the d and l isomers and noted as dl-alpha tocopherol.

Functions

• An antioxidant, vitamin E equalises cell membranes, protects cellular structures including the mitochondria, the genetic code, proteins, etc.; prevents cataracts, inhibits the oxidation of fats; aids in the utilisation of vitamin A and C.
• It also promotes normal blood clotting, reduces blood pressure and scarring of wounds, improves athletic performance, aids with Premenstrual Tension; fibrocystic breast disease.
• It is also necessary for: regulation of the heartbeat, prevention of osteoporosis. It also enhances immunity and is necessary for thyroid function and normal blood clotting.2

Requirements

The Recommended Daily Allowance has been set at 10mg for Vitamin E.

Signs of Deficiency

Signs include: muscular wasting, abnormal fat deposits in the muscles, impaired iron absorption, impaired utilisation of certain amino acids, reduced functioning of the adrenal glands, heart disease, infertility, menstrual problems, miscarriage and bowel and breast cancer.1,2

Signs of Toxicity

Few side effects have been recorded even at doses as high as 3,2000 mg daily.3

Note:

For persons taking blood-thinning medications, it is suggested not to exceed 1,200 IU vitamin E.

Current Research

Heart Disease
There is a significant body of research regarding the positive role of vitamin E and cardiovascular disease. In a 4-year study of 39,000 professionals, Harvard researchers found that men who supplemented their diets with at least 100 IU daily had a 39% lower risk of developing coronary artery disease than men who did not. Similar findings were noted for women.4

Cancer
Numerous studies have reported that vitamin E supplementation reduces the incidence of colon, pancreas, liver and oral cancers. One study of 29,854 men and women taking one of four supplement combinations, found that those persons receiving vitamin E, beta carotene and selenium, showed a 42 % reduction in esophageal cancer and lower rates of mortality from cancer, in general.5

Diabetes
Researchers in Finland report that in a study of 944 men (ages 42-60) those men with the lowest blood levels of vitamin E had a 3.9-fold increased risk of developing diabetes.6,7

1 Dunne, L.J. Nutrition Almanac, 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, 1990: pp.52-58.

2 Balch, J.F. and P.A. Prescription for Nutritional Healing. Avery Publishing, 1997: pp. 19-20.

3 Meydani M., Hayes K.C. Vitamin E. http://www.nutrition.org/nutinfo/content/vie.shtml.

4 Rimm E., Stampfer M., Ascherio A., et al. Vitamin E consumption and the risk of coronary heart disease in men. N Eng J Med 1993; 325:1450-1456.

5 Taylor P., Li B., Dawsey S., et al. Prevention of esophageal cancer: The nutrition intervention trials in Linxian, China. Cancer Res 1994; 54(7):2029-2031.

6 Salonen J., Nyyssonen K., Tuomainen T., et al. Increased risk of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus at low plasma vitamin E concentrations: A four year follow-up study in men. Br Med J 1995; 311:1124-1127.

7 Mooradian A., Failla M., Hoogwerf B., et al. Selected vitamins and minerals in diabetes. Diabet Care 1994; 17:464-479.