Vitamin E
The discovery of vitamin E by scientists when they discovered a factor in vegetable oils is necessary for breeding in rats. They called this factor the name Tocopherol, a word meaning “fetus of fat.” Scientists discovered four types of tocopherol called alpha-tocopherol, Tocopherol, delta-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol and alpha-tocopherol are the only ones that carry vitamin E activity in the human body.
Daily needs of vitamin E by age group
The following table shows the daily needs of vitamin E in the age group:
Age group | Daily needs (alpha-tocopherol mg / day) | Upper limit (mg / day) |
---|---|---|
Infants 0-6 months | 4 | undefined |
Infants 6-12 months | 5 | undefined |
Children 1-3 years | 6 | 200 |
Children 4-8 years | 7 | 300 |
Children 9-13 years old | 11 | 600 |
14-18 years old | 15 | 800 |
19 years and over | 15 | 1000 |
The pregnant woman is less than 18 years old | 15 | 800 |
Pregnant 19-50 years old | 15 | 1000 |
Lactation is less than 18 years | 19 | 800 |
Breastfeeding 19-50 years | 19 | 1000 |
Vitamin E functions in the body
Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and is one of the most important antioxidants in fat in the body. It acts as one of the most important defense mechanisms in the body against the harmful effects of free radicals. It protects sensitive components and membranes from oxidation and damage. Unsaturated and other fat-related substances (such as vitamin A) are oxidized.
Many studies suggest that vitamin E reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by protecting low-density lipoprotein (LDL) from oxidation. The oxidation of this bad cholesterol is a key factor in heart disease, and vitamin E Has played a role in the prevention of cancer because of its work as an antioxidant, where some studies found that low level raises the proportion of some types of cancer, but the relationship between him and cancer is still less clear than the relationship of vitamin C and vitamin C, and work as an antioxidant suggests Role Him in other cases related to oxidation, such as aging, arthritis (Arthritis), cataracts (Cataracts), diabetes, infection, and some cases of Alzheimer’s disease.
Vitamin E deficiency
The lack of vitamin E is due to the lack of intake of food sources rarely in humans, and is usually deficient due to a disorder in the absorption of fat, such as that occurs in the case of cystic fibrosis, and causes lack of disintegration in red blood cells, which makes them out of the contents, Often due to the oxidation of fatty acids in the membranes of these cells, and this is found in preterm infants (Premature infants), as the transfer of vitamin E from the mother to the body of the child occurs in the last weeks of pregnancy, which does not happen in cases of premature birth, These babies absorb the There is little fat, which affects their ability to absorb this vitamin, called this case of anemia (Hemolytic anemia).
Vitamin E deficiency causes long periods of dysfunction in the musculoskeletal functions that include the spinal cord and retina. Symptoms include muscle dysfunction, muscular reflexes, dyslexia, speech impairment, muscle weakness, and imbalance.
Sources of vitamin E food
This vitamin is widely found in foods, as it is found in vegetable oils and all the products containing it. Wheat germ oil is a rich source of vitamin E and because vitamin E is rapidly damaged and affected by heat and oxidation, it is considered fresh food and has not undergone many manufacturing steps Cooking sources are good for him, while food that has undergone multiple manufacturing steps or frying is not considered good sources.
Benefits of taking vitamin E capsules
Vitamin E capsules provide many health and therapeutic benefits, including:
- Treatment of irregularity of motion (ataxia) which causes vitamin E deficiency. Vitamin E supplements are part of its treatment.
- Vitamin E can be effective in slowing the decline of memory and the need for someone to take care of the patient in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s, but it does not prevent the transition from simple cases of memory loss to severe cases of the disease.
- Vitamin E can be effective in treating anemia when taken with Erythropoietin in children and adults who do dialysis.
- Vitamin E is used to treat children with beta-thalasemia with this vitamin deficiency.
- It was found that eating 200 global units of vitamin E for more than ten years reduces the risk of dying from bladder cancer.
- Vitamin E can play a role in reducing neural damage associated with chemotherapy. It was found that pre-chemotherapy with Cisplatin reduces the risk of nerve damage associated with it.
- Eating vitamin E can reduce the risk of dementia, but it does not reduce the risk of dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease.
- It was found that taking vitamin E in the two days before the menstrual cycle and after the start of three days reduces the pain associated with it, and reduces the duration, and loss of blood obtained, and was found to reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.
- Vitamin E helps in the treatment of dyspraxia in children.
- Vitamin E was found to improve renal function in glomerulosclerosis in children.
- Taking vitamin E alone or with selenium helps to improve the genetic activity of the G6PD gene known as voel.
- Natural vitamin E intake improves the symptoms of Huntington’s disease in its early stages, but has no effect in advanced cases of the disease.
- Improves intake of vitamin E by men with fertility problems of pregnancy.
- Vitamin E helps the skin to treat a type of skin ulceration called granuloma annulare, known as fungus fungus or granuloma granuloma.
- High doses of vitamin E and vitamin A help heal after laser surgery in the eyes.
- Reducing vitamin E intake with rheumatoid arthritis drugs reduces pain in these cases rather than pharmacotherapy alone.
- Some studies have found that taking vitamin E improves the symptoms of locomotor disorder (Tardive dyskinesia) known as delayed movement disorder.
- Some research has found that taking vitamin E reduces the risk of infection in children who are treated with chemotherapy, but this effect needs further research.
- Some studies have found that taking vitamin E reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and has been shown to help lower blood sugar in those infected, but these effects need further research.
- To improve the incidence of high cholesterol, some preliminary studies suggest that taking vitamin E with vitamin C reduces cholesterol in cases of high in children, and this need for further scientific research.
- Some studies have found that taking vitamin E reduces the risk of stroke in men with high blood pressure and diabetes, while other studies have found it does not reduce the risk of infection.
- Vitamin E intake can reduce the dosage of drugs to be taken from immunosuppressive drugs in liver transplantation cases.
- Taking vitamin E and C with normal medications two to two days before transfusions can be helpful in reducing complications, but taking vitamin E alone does not produce this effect, and this effect needs further research.
- Vitamin E can play a role in skin disorders, allergies, epilepsy, colds, and chronic fatigue syndrome, but these effects need further research.
Side effects of vitamin E and its toxicity
The use of vitamin E capsules has increased in recent years to prevent chronic diseases. Although it is a lipid-soluble vitamin, its toxicity is still rare even with the prevalence of its use. The maximum daily intake is much higher than the recommended daily dose. The body can carry high doses of it without being toxic, and the person’s need for vitamin E increases with consumption of unsaturated fat, but it is always found in natural sources with it.
Vitamin E is safe when taken or when used on the skin in the majority of healthy people, and it does not cause any side effects when taken daily dose of 15 mg, but it is not safe when taken at high doses equivalent to 400 mg or more daily by Those with heart disease and diabetes. These doses were found to increase the risk of death and serious side effects.
Vitamin E can increase the risk of haemorrhagic stroke at doses of 300 to 800 units per day worldwide by 22%. In contrast, it reduces the risk of ischemic stroke. Research results in the effect of vitamin E on the risk of prostate cancer, Eating large doses of vitamin E, such as the intake of supplements (supplemented with multivitamin supplement with vitamin E), can increase the risk of infection. High doses can cause some side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, general weakness, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, bleeding, rashes, and bruising.
Precautions for the use of vitamin E
Vitamin E may be harmful in the following cases:
- Pregnancy and lactation : The recommended daily dose is safe and necessary, but should be avoided in high doses in the early stages of pregnancy, where it can be harmful to the fetus, and is considered to be recommended doses safe during periods of lactation.
- children : Do not exceed the doses listed in the upper limit in the table above, and do not be given to infants with high doses intravenously safe.
- Angioplasty : It should be avoided without medical supervision before and after these operations.
- Diabetes : It should be avoided in high doses in patients with diabetes, where it was found that can increase the risk of failure of their heart muscle.
- Heart attacks : High doses of vitamin E should be avoided by people with a history of heart attack, which has been shown to increase the risk of death.
- Vitamin K deficiency : It can increase the bad blood clotting problems caused by lack of this vitamin.
- Retinitis pigmentosa : Where it was found that high doses of it increase the speed of loss of sight in this case.
- Bleeding Disorders : Avoid taking high doses in these cases, as it can make them worse.
- Head and neck cancer : It can raise the intake of 400 units worldwide a day or more of the chance of the return of these types of cancer.
- Prostate cancer : It is best to avoid taking it by people with this disease.
- Strokes : It should be avoided in high doses in people with a history of disease involving stroke.
- surgeries : High doses may raise the risk of bleeding, and therefore should be stopped at high doses before the dates of surgery at least two weeks.
Drug interactions
Vitamin E can interfere with high doses of other vitamins in the body, as it can cause impaired liver capacity to store vitamin A. It can also affect the speed of blood clotting and interfere with the work of vitamin K, and increase the effect of anti-coagulants Such as warfarin. It was also found that taking it with selenium, vitamin C and beta-carotenoids reduces the effect of niacin, which helps to raise good cholesterol, which can be reduced, and eating with these vitamins can reduce the effect of cholesterol-lowering drugs.
- Note : This article is not a substitute for consulting your doctor, and you should see your doctor before starting to take this vitamin high doses.