Vitamin E is an essential nutrient that provides your body with numerous health benefits. However, even though your body needs it, your body cannot make it on its own. As such, you need to get vitamin E from other sources in order to get the amount that your body requires to function well. This vitamin can be found most abundantly in wheat germ oil and also in nuts, seeds, vegetable oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, olive oil, tomatoes, spinach and other leafy vegetables. But if your diet does not consist of enough food to provide you with the vitamin E you need, you can get it from health supplements just as well.
While we may have always thought of vitamin E simply as a single nutrient out of many others, it is actually made up of a group of compounds that all have distinctive antioxidant activities! Talk about an antioxidant powerhouse. In fact, naturally-occurring vitamin E has eight forms, one of which is known as d-alpha-tocopherol. It is the only form of vitamin E that has been recognized to meet the requirements of the human body and that is actively maintained inside the body. It can be found in the largest quantities in the blood and tissues.
As an antioxidant, d-alpha-tocopherol’s main function is to protect your body tissues from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are formed in your body during normal metabolism and upon exposure to environmental factors, like pollutants. The damage is done through oxidation that largely affects fats, which are an integral part of all cell membranes. Since d-alpha-tocopherol is a fat-soluble vitamin, it is uniquely suited to intercept free radicals by neutralizing them and thereby preventing the destruction that they may cause. If left unchecked, free radical damage may hasten the aging process or lead to the development of cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancers.
Apart from vitamin E’s antioxidant properties, it has also been indicated to help boost your immune function. Several studies have suggested that vitamin E may enhance specific aspects of the immune response which decline as we grow older. A study done by the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tutts University, Boston, indicated that elderly adults who took 200 mg/day of synthetic alpha-tocopherol for several months showed an increased antibody formation.
Additionally, several studies have yielded results that suggest vitamin E’s potential in decreasing the risk of heart attacks or death from heart diseases. A study done by the Division of Epidemiology at the University of Minnesota School of Public Healthstudy suggested that antioxidant vitamins like vitamin E may protect against coronary heart disease, as found among the 5133 Finnish men and women observed.
Aside from the naturally-occurring d-alpha-tocopherol, another form of vitamin E is called dl-alpha-tocopherol which is also known as synthetic vitamin E. A vast number of health supplements in the market today may only contain synthetic vitamin E. While it has antioxidant properties identical to natural vitamin E, synthetic vitamin E has lower biological activity. This has to do with how it is absorbed by the body. Studies have shown that natural vitamin E is more active and better absorbed by the body.
At PureandHealthy by Nu-ture, we only offer vitamin E in its natural form. Our capsules are packed with 400IU of d-alpha tocopherol acetate from soybeans to ensure you of the highest possible quality in aiding you towards optimal health.
There are generally no problems associated with taking vitamin E regularly. Although studies have suggested that it is more beneficial to take it with a proper diet. As with any other health supplement or medication, it is best to consult your doctor before taking anything.
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Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient that has known antioxidant properties. Vitamin E exists in eight different forms in nature, which are called isomers. Of these vitamin E isomers, the most active in human biology and nutrition is known as alpha-tocopherol. In terms of the daily recommended allowance for humans, vitamin E measurements are based on the alpha-tocopherol equivalents of vitamin E. Supplements for vitamin E are available in both natural and synthetic forms, with the former usually labeled “d” and the latter “dl.”
Vitamin E has numerous proposed and potential benefits. Vitamin E has been suggested as being helpful in the prevention of numerous conditions and illnesses because of the antioxidant properties of the vitamin. Research studies into the potential uses of vitamin E are ongoing, with particular focus on the fields of cancer research and treatment, and heart disease. For the moment, the only benefit of vitamin E with a wealth of concrete scientific data supporting the use of vitamin E in higher quantities than the daily allowance is in the treatment of conditions associated with deficiencies.
Deficiency in vitamin E is considered to be a rare occurrence. Vitamin E deficiency is most often found in individuals with diminished fat consumption due to surgery, cystic fibrosis, or Crohn’s disease. Malnutrition, diets with extremely low fat content, some genetic conditions, and low birth weight have also been known to contribute to the risk of a vitamin E deficiency. Vitamin E supplementation is advised for treating the symptoms of a deficiency, and for preventing the complications that may arise from such. Note that the diagnosis and treatment of these should be taken under the advisement and supervision of a physician and nutritionist.
In some circles, vitamin E is believed to have use in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. It is thought that vitamin E can help reduce the nasal symptoms caused by allergies. However, while there has been some scientific evidence suggesting this possibility, vitamin E studies have not yet confirmed it. Further studies into vitamin E and any beneficial effects it has on allergic rhinitis are still being conducted, and more data is required before the medical community will make a firm conclusion.
Altitude sickness is a common problem, and one that may be alleviated with vitamin E. The supplementation of antioxidants supplied by vitamin E, vitamin C, and selenium is believed to improve the human body’s ventilation threshold upon reaching higher altitudes. There is data suggesting that this function of vitamin E may help reduce the effects and symptoms of altitude sickness. However, there is currently little data to suggest that vitamin E can alleviate another problem related to altitude sickness: inflammation after exercise. Research is being conducted to confirm whether or not vitamin E can be effective in such a capacity.
Vitamin E is confirmed to act as an antioxidant in the body. Studies have shown that it does act in the body, but the data shows that vitamin E may have only a negligible effect in the doses available in most supplements. The current recommendation of the American Heart Associated is to obtain antioxidants such as vitamin E by eating a well-balanced diet, with emphasis on fruits and whole grains. Until further scientific confirmation on the antioxidant benefits of vitamin E is available, the AHA suggests consulting with a doctor or nutritionist before taking vitamin E supplements.
Much of the potential benefits of using vitamin E are still in the theoretical stages, awaiting further testing or confirmation from studies. Vitamin E has been believed to reduce the rate of gastric cancer, alongside other vitamins. Alongside other medications, vitamin E has shown potential in reducing the risk of seizures, particularly in conditions such as refractory epilepsy. A lack of data and reliable studies has made it unclear whether or not vitamin E can help in improving exercise tolerance and decreasing the cholesterol buildup in blood vessels due to prolonged walking. The few reliable studies in that line of inquiry has shown that vitamin E can produce beneficial results, but further data is required to confirm.
It is notable that most studies into the potential benefits of vitamin E have focused on the alpha-tocopherol form. Some believe that research into the potential positive effects of vitamin E may look towards the other forms of vitamin E, to see if the results will differ.
