What is vitamin E?
Vitamin E exists in eight different forms as a fat-soluble vitamin, with each form having its own biological activity. The most active form of vitamin E is Alpha-tocopherol, a powerful biological antioxidant. Vitamin E as well as other antioxidants protect your cells against the effects of free radicals, which are potentially damaging by-products of the body’s metabolism of oxygen. The development of cardiovascular disease and cancer can often be attributed to the cell damage caused by these free radicals. It is widely believed that vitamin E might help prevent or delay the development of those chronic diseases.

When is vitamin E deficiency most common?
Although vitamin E deficiency is one of the more rare vitamin or mineral deficiencies, it does still occur. It is most often seen in individuals with rare disorders of fat metabolism, in persons who cannot absorb dietary fat, and in premature infants. Vitamin E deficiency is most often characterized by neurological problems due to poor nerve conduction.

Some dietary fat is needed for the absorption of vitamin E in the gastrointestinal tract and individuals who cannot absorb fat may require a vitamin E supplement. Other people in which supplementation may be necessary are those with cystic fibrosis, those who have had part or all of their stomach removed, and those with malabsorptive problems such as Crohn’s disease. Greasy stools or chronic diarrhea are indications of fat absorption diseases.

Abetalipoproteinemia is a rare inherited disorder of fat metabolism that also results in poor absorption of dietary fat and vitamin E. The vitamin E deficiency associated with this disease causes problems such as poor transmission of nerve impulses, muscle weakness, and degeneration of the retina that can cause blindness. Vitamin E supplements are often prescribed for this disorder.

Vitamin E and cancer.
Although the evidence is still not conclusive, vitamin E may protect against the development of cancers by enhancing immune function as well as blocking the formation of nitrosamines, which are carcinogens formed in the stomach from nitrites consumed in the diet. Free radicals are some of the prime culprits in the development of cancer and other chronic diseases. Antioxidants such as vitamin E are believed to provide protection against the damaging effects of free radicals.
There is also some body of evidence indicating that a higher intake of vitamin E may reduce the incidence of prostate cancer, breast cancer, as well as colon cancer.

Vitamin E and cataracts.
It has been found in observational studies that lens clarity, which is used to diagnose cataracts, was better in users of vitamin E supplements and in persons with higher blood levels of vitamin E. Antioxidants in general, are being studied to determine whether they can help prevent cataracts, growths on the lens of the eye that cloud vision.

Please take note that this material is intended only as information and should not be used to replace the expertise of medical professionals. When looking for medical help, we believe it best to consult those who practice not only the more conventional methods of medicine, but whose first consideration is the nutritional deficiency aspects of disease and disease treatment.