Everything You Need To Know about Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a vital nutrient for good health. It is a fat-soluble vitamin found in many foods, Dr. Magdy Badran says.

The term “vitamin E” describes eight different compounds. Alpha-tocopherol is the most active one in humans.

It is important to vision, reproduction, immunity, and the health of your blood, brain, and skin. It helps to widen blood vessels. Also, cells use vitamin E to interact with each other and to carry out many important functions.

Vitamin E is a Potent Antioxidant

Vitamin E is an antioxidant powerhouse. Ever wondered why leading cosmetic companies to add Vitamin E to their products?

One very good reason is that Vitamin E acts as a powerful antioxidant protecting our cells against oxidative damage from free radicals thus maintaining healthy skin.

Free radicals are increased by exposure to air pollution and high exposure to ultraviolet rays from sunlight.

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including atherosclerosis, fatty liver disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases.

It is expected that, if oxidative stress plays a causative role, then antioxidants should reduce the risk or be useful in the prevention and treatment of these diseases.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that may help reduce free radical damage and slow the aging process of your cells.

It is the most abundant and potent radical-scavenging antioxidant in vivo. It is lipophilic and had antioxidant effects within biological membranes and lipoproteins in concert with the hydrophilic vitamin C.

Vitamins E and C inhibit oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (the "bad" cholesterol or LDL) synergistically.

Vitamin E and Immunity

Vitamin E is a nutrient your body needs to support your immune system and help your cells to regenerate.

It is one of the first lines of defense against the free radical damage to the lungs when we breathe in air pollution and cigarette smoke.

Dietary interventions of vitamin E have been shown to enhance cell-mediated and humoral immune responses in various species of animals.

The immunostimulatory effect of vitamin E has resulted in enhanced resistance against several pathogens. In humans, its effects on the natural incidence of infectious diseases have been determined in several studies.

Many studies provided evidence that the immunostimulatory effects of vitamin E confer improved resistance to infections. However, the magnitudes of the effects were rather small, and in some studies, positive effects were only observed in subgroups of subjects.

In contrast, vitamin E supplementation has various beneficial effects on the host immune system. The decreased cellular immunity with aging or during the development of AIDS is markedly improved by the intake of a high vitamin E diet.

Benefits of Vitamin E for Infertility

Vitamin E was first discovered by Evans and Bishop in 1922, and it was initially denoted as an “anti-sterility factor X” that was necessary for reproduction.

Infertility can occur for any number of reasons, but certain nutrients can increase your odds of conception.

Vitamin E is one such nutrient. It plays a role in gene expression and cell signaling, which are crucial functions for getting pregnant and supporting a healthy pregnancy.

Vitamin E deficiency can interfere with normal reproductive functions in men. The deficiency can lead to testicular damage, which can inhibit normal hormonal secretion necessary for reproduction.

Increasing intake of vitamin E might prevent ovulation decline, one reason many older women have trouble getting pregnant. Taking vitamin E before undergoing fertility treatments might also boost the success rate of pregnancy.

The vitamin plays a role in the formation and maintenance of the placenta. A healthy placenta is essential for supporting a healthy pregnancy.

[caption id="attachment_81548" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Nuts Are Source of Vitamin E[/caption]

Smoking Depletes Vitamin E

Cigarette smoking reduces blood levels of vitamin C and vitamin E. It is being depleted from tissue concentrations to keep up its levels in the blood, leaving the tissues - including those of the lungs - particularly vulnerable to attack by toxins and free radicals. This may help explain how smoking can cause cancer.

Like vitamin C, smoking appears to increase vitamin E requirements. Smokers with the lowest vitamin C levels have the fastest disappearance of vitamin E.

Inadequate levels of vitamin C can cause further and faster depletion of vitamin E. It often plays the first role in intervening against free radicals and preventing membranes from becoming oxidized - but in the process, vitamin E itself can be made into a radical.

If adequate vitamin C is present, it can help the vitamin E return to non-radical form. Without adequate levels of vitamin C in the body, vitamin E in tissues can quickly decline.

An Anti-Aging Vitamin

Vitamin E is key for strong and healthy skin and eyes. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that make getting enough essential to your everyday health.

It has been in use for more than 50 years in dermatology. It is an important ingredient in many cosmetic products.

Topically, vitamin E can be very helpful for a range of skin disorders, as well as skin repair. It assists in various kinds of cellular restoration from sun damage to healing support for scars or burns.

It has "moisturizing and healing" benefits, and helps to "strengthen skin barrier function. It is also a natural anti-inflammatory, so it can be soothing and help calm the skin. It's also been shown to relieve eczema for some people.

It is high in antioxidants, and it affects blood circulation. That might be why people notice a difference in the firmness and structure of their skin after topical use of vitamin E oil.

Its oil can be used on your face as an overnight anti-aging treatment. Since vitamin E has a thick consistency, it’s best to apply it before bed so that it can fully absorb.

A benefit of vitamin E oral supplements may be glowing skin that looks younger.

Beauty mask treatments that contain vitamin E may have skin-softening and anti-aging benefits. Masks with vitamin E tend to be paired with other ingredients, such as vitamin C.

Hyperpigmentation may be moderately affected by using topical vitamin E oil. The most effective way to use vitamin E to treat hyperpigmentation is to pair it with vitamin C.

Low Vitamin E

Vitamin E deficiency could damage the brain. It is essential to the central nervous system. Low levels can lead to muscle weakness, coordination and walking difficulties, numbness, tingling, infertility, and vision deterioration.

A lack of vitamin E can inhibit the immune cells. Older adults may be particularly at risk. Deficiency is uncommon and typically the result of an underlying condition.

Its deficiency often runs in families. Its deficiency can also result from diseases that severely reduce the absorption of fat.

[caption id="attachment_81546" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Signs of Vitamin E Deficiency[/caption]

Some premature infants also have low levels. Premature infants are at particular risk because an immature digestive tract can interfere with fat and vitamin E absorption.

Deficiency is also common in newborns and babies born prematurely who have lower birth weights and less fat. Its deficiencies in these infants can also lead to hemolytic anemia, which destroys red blood cells.

Food Sources

In the US, an estimated 96% of adult women and 90% of adult men do not receive enough vitamin E in their diet. It is plentiful in a wide variety of foods.

Nuts (such as peanuts, hazelnuts, and, especially, almonds) seeds (like sunflower seeds), vegetable oils (like wheat germ, and sunflower oils) are among the best sources of vitamin E.

Corn and soybean oils also provide some vitamin E. Green vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli, provide some vitamin E.