Fat Soluble Vitamins - Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect against oxidative damage in the body caused by reactive oxygen species, which themselves are a natural by-product of many metabolic reactions and exercise but may be exacerbated by smoking, poor diets and polluted atmospheres.
Vitamin E plays a role in protecting polyunsaturated fats in the body from free radical damage. Vitamin E is also required in DNA synthesis, the immune response and has anti-inflammatory effects.
Epidemiological studies relate intake of adequate amounts of vitamin E with a reduced risk of intestinal, breast and lung cancer and coronary heart disease. This may or may not be due to its antioxidant properties (e.g. in protecting LDL-cholesterol from being oxidised, which is a step in the development of atherosclerosis).
Vitamin E deficiency has several symptoms, related to cell membrane damage, which causes the leakage of cell contents such as enzymes, into the plasma. However, it is difficult to observe deficiency clinically in adults.
Food sources of vitamin E include vegetable oils, meat, some fruits and vegetables and nuts.
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