Vitamin E, also known as tocopherol, is a golden or pale yellow oil. Vitamin E is an essential fat-soluble vitamin that is almost insoluble in water. As an excellent antioxidant and nutritient, vitamin E is widely used in the food and nutraceutical industries. Vitamin E is used as an antioxidant in fatty and oily foods to maintain the fresh flavor of foods. It can also be used as a deodorizer to improve the fishlike smell and enhance the flavor of food.
Vitamin E can be divided into natural vitamin E and synthetic Vitamin E. Natural vitamin E includes four tocopherols and four tocotrienols, all of which are right-handed opticity. Among them, α-tocopherol are the most abundant and active. Synthetic vitamin E are usually referred to as all-rac-α-tocopherols, which are racemates composed of eight optical isomers. Natural vitamin E is preferred due to its higher biological activity and safety than synthetic products.
Functions
Vitamin E has received widespread attention due to its various critical roles in the human body, and the main functions are listed below.
- Delays the aging of the body.
- Protects the liver.
- Regulates blood pressure.
- Prevent myopia and cataracts.
- Protects cell mucosa for cosmetic skin care.
- Regulates the normal secretion of hormones in the body.
- Stops the formation of carcinogens in various tissues in the body and stimulates the body's immune system.
Food Sources of Vitamin E
Fruitsmulberry, grape, banana, pineapple, kiwi, mango, avocado, etc.
Vegetablesspinach, celery, cabbage, red bell pepper, beet greens, collard greens, etc.
Nutssesame, walnuts, soybeans, peanuts, melon seeds, almonds, hazelnuts, etc.
Dairy productscow's milk, goat's milk, cheese, etc.
Plant oilswheat germ oil, corn oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, etc.
Deficiency
Vitamin E deficiency is usually due to fat malabsorption. The main symptoms include:
- Impaired reflexes and coordination, difficulty walking, muscle weakness.
- Red blood cells fragility and hemolytic anemia.
- Neuronal degeneration with nonspecific neurologic deficits.
- Vitamin E deficiency in premature infants causes severe anemia, retinopathy of prematurity (also known as retrolental fibroplasia), muscle weakness, etc.
- For children who are deficient in vitamin E, symptoms such as ophthalmoplegia, muscle weakness and ptosis may occur.
Toxicity
When vitamin E is taken in excess amounts, it will cause vitamin E toxicity, which can result in serious bleeding. Bleeding episodes can occur anywhere in the body, such as intracranial hemorrhage, and are accompanied by severe, life-threatening hemorrhagic strokes. Complications from bleeding episodes include weakness, fatigue, and emotional lability. To avoid vitamin E toxcity, people should take vitamin E supplements under the guidance of your physician at a low dose.
Recommended Amounts
Vitamin E can be obtained from the diet, and any vitamin E that the body does not need immediately can be stored for future use. For different groups of people, the recommended daily intake (RDA) of vitamin E is as follows.
- The RDA for vitamin E for men and women aged 14 and older is 15 mg per day, which equates to 22 international units (IU).
- The RDA for vitamin E for pregnant women is 15 mg (22 IU) per day as well.
- Lactating women need 19 mg (28 IU) of vitamin E per day.
Alfa Chemistry offers a wide range of high quality vitamin E ingredients, including D-alpha tocopherol, D-alpha tocopheryl acetate and D-alpha tocopheryl succinate in different specifications. You can view the specifications of vitamin E products by clicking on the links at the top of the page. If you do not find what you are looking for, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.
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