Vitamin E: Why It Is Important

Vitamin E Vitamin E is a very important vitamin to humans. This vitamin is fat soluble, which means that it can be stored by the body. There are actually eight different forms of vitamin E, and each form has it's own activity in the body. The most common form of this vitamin is called Alpha-tocopherol.

This form of vitamin E works as a powerful antioxidant as well, and most supplements of this vitamin contain this form of it. The synthetic form of this type of vitamin E is only half as active as the natural form. Vitamin E works to protect your cells from the harmful effects of free radicals.

This vitamin also plays an important part in your immune system, in repairing DNA, and in various other metabolic processes of the body. Foods that are high in vitamin E include leafy green vegetables,nuts, vegetable oils, and various other foods. Most cereals found on store shelves today are fortified with vitamin E as well. Requirements recommended for vitamin E range from six milligrams a day for very small children, to nineteen milligrams a day for lactating women. Normal adults should have around fifteen milligrams of vitamin E each day. A deficiency of vitamin E is very rare in humans, however, certain individuals may be at risk for a deficiency of vitamin E.

This includes people who have disorders of the metabolism of fat, people who can not secrete bile, people with certain rare genetic disorders that interfere with the absorption of this vitamin, and premature infants who have a very low birth weight. People who have a deficiency in zinc may have low blood levels of vitamin E. Not having enough of this vitamin can lead to medical symptoms that should be checked by your physician.

Normally there will be neurological, or nerve, degeneration in the limbs and extremities, most notably in the hands and feet. A physicians's visit is important as all the symptoms of vitamin E deficiency may be caused by other medical conditions as well.

Certain classes of individuals may need to take extra amounts of vitamin E to prevent a deficiency. These are individuals that can not absorb fat, and since vitamin E is fat soluble, these people may need additional amounts of the vitamin in their diet in the form of a supplement. People who have Cystic Fibrosis and Crohn's Disease are two of the classes of people who may require a vitamin E supplement.

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