Glossary: Vitamin E

vitamin E

Also known as: Tocopherol; Tocotrienols

What is it?

This powerful VITAMIN and ANTIOXIDANT, circulating in the blood and detoxing free radicals (destructive by-products of metabolism), prevents damage to cell membranes, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer. Further, vitamin E keeps "bad" CHOLESTEROL (LDL) from turning into even worse cholesterol — oxidized LDL — which initiates buildup of arterial plaque (atherogenesis) and can lead, ultimately, to serious heart disesae. Finally, it also speeds healing in burn and post-op patients and, recent studies suggest, seems to ease the pain and swelling of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, to reduce the risk of cataracts, to bolster the immune system, even to slow the progress of Parkinson's disease. Is E, then, the "everything vitamin," the elixir of health and fountain of youth man has been seeking for centuries? No nutritionist or medical researcher will climb out on that limb; still a number of them do admit to taking vitamin E supplements — just in case.

A FAT-soluble vitamin (like A, D and K), vitamin E exists in the form of tocopherols and tocotrienols. Four different tocopherols have been identified, and although the most active is ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL, researchers now believe there's a symbiotic relationship among the different tocopherols, that all work in concert to promote good health. The unit of measurement for vitamin E is the D-alpha-tocopherol equivalent, abbreviated as alpha-TE and computed in milligrams.

Deficiency Symptoms

anemia

Precautions

Milling removes almost all of the vitamin E in grains, and the refining of vegetable oils robs them of at least a fourth of their vitamin E content. Foods lose vitamin E during prolonged storage, also when frozen or cooked at intense heat (frying and deep-fat frying are singularly destructive). If you smoke, you'll need extra vitamin E to counteract the stress put on your lungs. Finally, air pollution may increase your need for vitamin E. Is there a danger in taking too much vitamin E? Yes, if you're on blood-thinning or anticlotting drugs. Megadoses of vitamin E will depower them and may also cause gastrointestinal upsets. Compared to two other fat-soluble VITAMIN — A and D — however, vitamin E seems to be relatively nontoxic.

Good Sources

Vegetable oils (particularly those pressed from wheat germ, barley, corn and soybeans), peanut butter, liver, leafy greens, wheat germ, whole grains and nuts.

Standard Process™ Supplements

Cataplex E, Cataplex E2, For-Til B12, Wheat Germ Oil, Wheat Germ Oil Perles Fortified

Essential

U.S. RDA FOR VITAMIN E
babies: birth to 6 months 6 months to 1 year	3 mg alpha-TE per day 4 mg alpha-TE per day
children: 1 to 3 years 4 to 10 years	6 mg alpha-TE per day 7 mg alpha-TE per day
men and boys: 11 to 51+ years	10 mg alpha-TE per day
women and girls: 11 to 51+ years	8 mg alpha-TE per day
pregnant women	10 mg alpha-TE per day
nursing mothers: first 6 months second 6 months	12 mg alpha-TE per day 11 mg alpha-TE per day