Vitamin E-This is a collective term of eight naturally occuring tocopherols. Alpha-tocopherol has the highest activity of the eight.
Vitamin E functions primarily as an antioxidant. This antioxidant activity helps us in preventing the nonenzymatic oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids from oxygen and free radicals.Sources of vitamin E
Vegetable oils are good sources of vitamin E. Eggs and liver provide moderate amounts of the vitamin.
RDA of vitamin E
The RDA for alpha-tocopherol is 10mg for males and 8 mg for females. With an increase in polyunsaturated fats in the diet, the requirement for vitamin E increases.
Deficiency of vitamin E
In adults vitamin E deficiency is associated with defective lipid absorption and transport, and abnormal cellular membranes. Premature infants have the highest susceptibility to complications of vitamin E deficiency.
Toxicity of vitamin E
Chronic excessive amount of alpha-tocopherol can cause gastrointestinal distress, fatigue, rashes and increases in serum cholesterol. IV injection to premature infants can cause pulmonary deterioration, kidney and liver failure, and many other problems. This may not be due to the alpha-tocopherol, but rather from the effects of the polysorbate in the preparation.
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