The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Knowledge about Vitamin E

Posted on 03. Mar, 2010 by Admin in Vitamin E

Vitamin E – Tocopherol is a fat soluble vitamin in a form of light yellow oil, found in nature.

Vitamin E was discovered during experiments on rats in 1922. Devoid of vitamin E, the rats became infertile. Adding wheat germ oil to their food restored their fertility. The oil-based substance was therefore at first called “antisterility vitamin“. “Tocopherol” in Greek means “to bear children” (from tokos – “offspring” and phero – ” to bear”).

Overdose of vitamin E is not very likely to happen because unlike other fat soluble vitamins (A, D and K), vitamin E is not stored in the body quite as readily and any excess intake is eliminated via urine and feces (over 50% of excess).

However, with high intakes of E vitamin some people may experience diarrhea, flatulence and nausea. Those with high blood pressure, rheumatic heart disease and some other health conditions (blood clotting etc.) should avoid large doses of vitamin E.

When used topically, as an oil application, vitamin E is also partially absorbed through the skin.

Food Sources of Vitamin E 1. Animal sources (fairly poor): butter, egg yolk, liver, milk fat.

2. Plant sources:

Oils: vegetable, seed and nut oils (the richest sources of vitamin E). To preserve the vitamin E, oil extraction must be done by cold pressing (without heat or chemical extraction).
Raw vegetables: green peas, asparagus, kale, spinach, cucumber and some in tomatoes and celery.
Grains: soybeans.
3. Other foods’ sources: margarines and shortenings made of vegetable oils.

Uses of Vitamin E It’s said that there is no clear evidence for Tocopherol to enhance fertility in humans even though it was first discovered as antisterility nutrient.

Especially in middle aged and older population E vitamin is a popular antioxidant supplement (protects cells and tissues from oxidation and injury from free radicals and pollution, supposedly aging and certain chronic conditions).

The list of possible uses is long and some of them are listed below.

Possible topical uses of vitamin E: wound healing, skin ulcers, lupus rash, dermatitis and herpes infections.

Possible oral uses of vitamin E:

Protection against toxic effects of alcohol, smoke, estrogen, ozone, adrimycin.
Muscle cramps
Diabetes
Menstrual pain and PMS
Menopause
Miscarriage prevention
Impotence
Herpes infections
Cancer
Osteoarthritis
Dermatitis
Shingles
Anemia
Viral disease
Periodontal disease
Peptic ulcers
Cataract prevention
Vascular fragility
Wound healing
Autoimmune diseases
Intermittent claudication
Fibrocystic breast disease
Cerebral thrombosis prevention
Surgery, especially cardiovascular

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