Vitamin E
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Some interesting facts about vitamin E:
- Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means that in order for it to be absorbed properly, there needs to be some fat in the diet and preferably the fat should be eaten at the same time as the food rich in vitamin D, to enable it to be absorbed quickly and easily. - Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant
Vitamin E is one of the major antioxidant vitamins that helps to fight and neutralise free radicals and prevent the damage they may cause to the body (ageing, cancer, heart disease). Vitamin E works effectively with vitamin C and vitamin A to perform these antioxidant duties. - Vitamin E works closely with vitamins A and C
Vitamin E has an important role in working together with vitamin A and vitamin C, as it helps to prevent them from oxidising, being damaged by free radical damage and being inactivated. Adequate levels of vitamin E are required to strengthen the effectiveness and functionality of both vitamin A and vitamin C. These vitamins all enhance each other's antioxidant actions.
The highest amounts of vitamin E are in the fat tissues and muscles, but there are concentrations of vitamin E in the pituitary gland, adrenal glands and testes
- Vitamin E is stored in many tissues
Vitamin E is stored in many tissues in the body. The highest amounts of vitamin E are in the fat tissues and muscles, but there are concentrations of vitamin E in the pituitary gland, adrenal glands and testes (in men). - There are two types of Vitamin E supplements available
People should always buy the natural form (d-alpha-tocopherol) of vitamin E in supplements, as it is much more superior to the synthetic one (dl-alpha-tocopherol) as it is more bioavailable to being easily synthesised in the body than the synthetic one. The natural form of vitamin E is the preferable one to buy.
References
- Rimm EB, et al. Vitamin E Consumption and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Men. NEJM, 1993. Volume 328 (20):1450-1456
- Yusuf S, Dagenais G, Pogue J, Sleight P. Vitamin E supplementation and cardiovascular events in high-risk patients. The Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation Study Investigators. N Engl J Med. 2000 Jan 20;342(3):154-60
- Brigelius-Flohé R, Kelly FJ, Salonen JT, Neuzil J, Zingg J-M, Azzi A. The European perspective on vitamin E: current knowledge and future research. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 76, No. 4, 703-716, October 2002
- Diaz MN, Frei B, Vita JA, Keaney JF. Antioxidants and atheroscleriotic heart disease. N Engl J Med. 1997;337(16):408-416
- Griffith HW. Minerals, Supplements and Vitamins - The Essential Guide. 2000 Fisher Books, USA
- Lieberman S, Bruning N. The Real Vitamin and Mineral Book - Using Supplements for Optimal Health. 3rd Edition. Avery Publishing, New York, 2003
- Osiecki, Henry, The Nutrient Bible 2002, BioConcepts Publishing