Vitamin E: Valuable Free Radical Scavenger

Vitamin E is not necessarily known to the general public. In perception, it is usually overshadowed by the much better known vitamins C and D.

In fact, however, we should also pay more attention to the E-vitamin, because it is essential to life.

Why Is Vitamin E Important For The Body ?

we often only use the so-called alpha-tocopherol.However, this view is simplistic, since all tocopherols are summarized under the collective term of vitamin E. These fat-soluble substances fulfill important tasks in our body, which makes them indispensable for us.

In this way they help us to protect ourselves against free radicals, highly reactive oxygen atoms. Free radicals can wreak havoc on our bodies. Without the E vitamin, they would destroy the polyunsaturated fatty acids in our cell membranes, in so-called lipoproteins and in our depot fat through oxidation.The tocopherol renders the free radicals harmless by reacting with them itself. It acts as a free radical scavenger and protects the valuable polyunsaturated fatty acids from oxidative destruction.It is also responsible for controlling the gonads. So it ensures the maintenance of fertility.

What Happens If There Is A Vitamin E Deficiency?

The recommended daily dose for vitamin E is approximately 12 mg. A deficiency is very rare in this country, as the vitamin can be stored in the liver and fatty tissue after absorption. A single intake can therefore provide us with the substance necessary for life for a longer period of time.

If deficiency symptoms occur in Europe, they are in most cases related to a disease that disrupts the absorption of fats. In other regions of the world where the supply of healthy food is not guaranteed, nutritional deficiencies also occur due to malnutrition.

A deficiency is manifested by the following symptoms:

• Dry, wrinkled skin
• fatigue
• irritability
• difficulty concentrating
• Promoting the occurrence of arteriosclerosis
• Poor wound healing
• dystrophies
• infertility

As you can see, numerous areas of the body are affected by a deficiency. This suggests that the E vitamin is essential for numerous functions in our body.

Since the symptoms of a deficiency are quite unspecific, in practice it is difficult to conclude that there is a vitamin E deficiency based on the symptoms.

Which Foods Are The Best Suppliers For This ?

Grains, nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, milk and eggs are considered good suppliers.attributed to the fact that the responsible transport protein has the highest affinity for alpha-tocopherol.The y-tocopherol found in soy products, on the other hand, cannot be properly stored and transported by the body.

What Happens If You Overdose?

An overdose is defined as an intake of more than 300 mg per day. For children, the tolerable maximum intake is much lower. Only 10 mg per day is recommended here.In the case of an overdose, there is presumably – studies did not provide absolutely reliable results – increased mortality.

In addition, vitamin E increases the effect of anticoagulants and can increase the risk of bleeding in combination with anticoagulants, in vitamin K deficiency and in combination with acetylsalicylic acid.