Vitamin E (tocopherol): description, sources, instructions for use

2024 Author: Curtis Blomfield | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 20:44

Vitamin E (tocopherol) is an important he alth active compound that has a significant impact on many bodily functions. Known as the "fertility vitamin" and "youth vitamin" due to its versatile work. Consider its most important functions, properties, valuable sources, as well as ways to use it.

Description

Vitamin E is a group of alpha-tocopherol derivatives that ensure the normal functioning of the body.

Vitamin E is presented in the form of eight "relatives" - four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. In both groups, four forms are distinguished: α, β, γ and δ. Each of the 8 forms of vitamin E exhibits slightly different biological activities. The most important role is played by alpha-tocopherol.

Vitamin E is fat soluble. It is quite resistant to high temperatures. However, tocopherols (group E vitamins) are sensitive to oxygen and ultraviolet rays. Therefore, oils and vegetables withthey should be stored in dark rooms. In the food industry, tocopherols are used as antioxidants, preventing rancid fat. They are marked with the symbol:

E 306 - a mixture of tocopherols.
E 307 - alpha-tocopherol.
E 308 - gamma-tocopherol.
E 309 - delta-tocopherol.

Food supplements with it are well tolerated by the human body and non-toxic.

Benefits of vitamin E consumption

Vitamin E (tocopherol) is a powerful antioxidant that helps delay the aging process.

Supplementing your daily diet and regularly consuming foods rich in vitamin E can provide many he alth benefits. The biological role of tocopherol is, first of all:

Maintain cholesterol balance. Cholesterol is a natural substance produced by the liver and essential for the normal functioning of cells, nervous and endocrine systems. When its level is in balance, the body is safe and can function properly. However, when cholesterol oxidizes, it becomes extremely dangerous. Studies have shown that certain vitamin E compounds serve as a natural protective antioxidant that reduces the oxidation state of cholesterol. This substance can effectively fight the damage caused by free radicals, preventing many harmful effects.
Reduce the risk of cancer and improve the effects of treatment. Vitamin E is sometimes used to reduce harmfulexposure to medical treatment such as radiation therapy or dialysis. Due to the fact that it is a powerful antioxidant, it effectively fights free radicals in the body. It is also used to reduce unwanted side effects of medications that can cause hair loss or lung damage. Certain properties of vitamin E activity are also associated with more effective protection against cancer development. Tocotrienols cause the death of cancer cells by excluding certain genes in them and suppressing angiogenesis. Animal studies have shown specific activity in breast, prostate, liver and skin cancers.
Maintaining hormonal balance. Vitamin E may play a key role in balancing the function of the endocrine and nervous systems. Hormonal imbalance symptoms can include PMS, uncontrolled weight gain, allergies, urinary tract infections, skin changes, anxiety, and fatigue. Maintaining hormonal balance ensures better body weight control, more regular menstrual cycles, and more energy in daily life.
Influence on normal growth and development of the fetus during pregnancy. Vitamin E (tocopherol) is critical during pregnancy and also in the normal development of infants and children. Some experts believe that the greatest need for vitamin E occurs approximately 1000 days after conception, as it affects the early stages of neurological development, including the brain, which can only occur during this particular period. ByFor this reason, it is recommended that pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children under 2 years of age take natural dietary ingredients that will be rich in this vitamin.
Improve physical and muscle strength. Vitamin E is often used to improve the physical strength of the body. First of all, it can increase overall energy and reduce the level of oxidative stress in the muscles after exercise. Helps eliminate fatigue, stimulates better blood circulation, strengthens capillary walls and nourishes cells.
Restoration of damaged skin. Vitamin E (tocopherol) is good for the skin, strengthens capillary walls and improves hydration and elasticity. In addition, it prevents skin aging. Research has shown that vitamin E helps reduce inflammation within the body and on the skin. Its antioxidant properties are also beneficial when a person is exposed to harmful external factors such as cigarette smoke or UV radiation.
Supporting he althy hair growth. Because vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, it helps reduce the damage that causes hair problems. Its use to regenerate and protect hair allows you to restore their he althy and fresh look.
Effect on improving vision. Vitamin E may help reduce the risk of developing retinopathy, a common cause of blindness.

What contains tocopherol?

The best way to stay he althy is to get all compounds from a natural dietary sourcevitamin E, which have various benefits. Introducing them into your daily diet instead of synthetic supplements gives you more confidence in maintaining the right balance and proper absorption. The vast majority of synthetic substances and vitamins found in supplements are not of the type found in nature and do not always help in maintaining overall he alth.

Vitamin E content per 100 g of selected foods:

Below 0.5mg - Dairy, Red Meat, Hake, Cod, Millet, Semolina, Buckwheat, Barley, White Rice, Corn Flakes, Wheat Flour, Beetroot, Potato, Chicory, Onion, Cauliflower, green bean, lettuce, cucumber, strawberry, banana, cherry, apple, pear, orange.
0.5-1mg - poultry, carp, chicken eggs, spirulina, brown rice, rye flour, soybeans, carrots, Brussels sprouts, peaches, apricots.
1-10 mg - mackerel, salmon, herring and pollock, oatmeal, wheat bran, walnuts, peanuts, cabbage, pumpkin, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, green onions, spinach, paprika, parsley, creamy butter, mango, blackcurrant, avocado, kiwi.
10-30 mg - sunflower seeds, almonds, wheat germ, olive oil, rapeseed oil, soybean oil, corn oil;
over 30 mg - sunflower oil, wheat germ oil, hazelnuts.

Vitamin E (tocopherol) instructions for use

Tocopherol can be used in liquid or tablet form. If the patient has a neuromuscular disease, the doctor will usually prescribe100 mg of the drug per day. If a man has impaired spermatogenesis or problems with potency, you should take 200-300 mg of tocopherol per day.

If a pregnant woman has problems with the he alth of the fetus, the doctor prescribes 150 mg of the drug in the first few months of pregnancy. In the treatment of atherosclerosis, 100 mg of tocopherol should be used daily in combination with retinol.

Only a doctor can individually determine the dose of medicine and correctly prescribe a course of treatment.

Indications for use

Specialists use preparations with tocopherol in case of:

muscle dystrophy;
appearance of sclerosis;
facial muscle movement problems;
menstrual irregularities in women;
pregnancy problems;
manifestations of potency;
appearance of dermatoses;
psoriasis;
severe convulsions;
complex liver therapy;
avitaminosis.

In the instructions for the use of vitamin E (tocopherol) it is described that the drug is used for complex treatment:

muscle disease;
myelitis;
heart disease;
eliminate side effects after chemotherapy;
eye diseases;
enhancing the effect of anticonvulsants.

Recommended doses of vitamin E

Before taking supplements, it is worth remembering that getting vitamins from food is a much better option than taking supplements. In this case, their overdose is difficult, and they are better absorbed.

Amount of demand forvitamin E depends on several factors, and mainly on age, sex and physiological state. Most often, these are the following upper values.

Daily Value of Vitamin E for Children aged:

1-3 years: 6mg,
4-8 years: 7mg,
9-13 years old: 11 mg.

Women:

14 years and over: 15 mg daily,
during pregnancy: 15 mg daily,
when breastfeeding: 19 mg daily.

Daily value of vitamin E for men: 14 years and over - 15 mg per day.

Be aware that because vitamin E is fat soluble, vitamin E supplements work best when absorbed with food. Their bioavailability will also depend on the presence of vitamin A, complex B, C, as well as selenium, manganese and phosphorus.

Causes and symptoms of vitamin E deficiency

Deficiency of vitamin E (tocopherol) or an insufficient amount of its relatives in the daily diet has long been considered a rare case. Its deficiencies may be due to other causes than improper nutrition. Some experts point out that many people do not get enough vitamin E in optimal form and eat too few foods rich in natural forms of tocotrienols.

There are special situations that can lead to vitamin E deficiency, mainly due to the conflicting action of certain nutrients. For example, a baby born weighing less than 1.7 kg is at risk for a deficiency in this important ingredient. In such cases, the pediatricianshould assess the nutritional needs of a young child in order to prevent possible problems. Another group experiencing problems with vitamin E deficiency are people suffering from poor absorption of fats, such as inflammation of the intestines. Unfortunately, in such cases, other fatty acid-soluble vitamins are also a problem.

Typical deficiency symptoms:

loss of coordination;
chronic fatigue and anemia;
fertility problems;
problems with bones and teeth;
skin keratosis and visible signs of aging;
visual and speech disorders;
increased susceptibility to infection

With a low level of this vitamin in the human body, there is an increase in the destruction of red blood cells, weakness of skeletal muscles and reduced fertility. Vitamin E deficiency increases the risk of miscarriage in women, can lead to a decrease in male potency and a decrease in sperm quality.

During pregnancy, it can also lead to neural tube defects in the fetus and low birth weight of the baby. Children with vitamin E deficiency may experience additional damage to the blood vessels in the eye, increased platelet clotting, increased sensitivity to toxic oxygen, or neuromuscular disorders.

Side effects

Vitamin E (tocopherol) is beneficial for most he althy people who take it at recommended doses by mouth or directly on the skin. However, in the case of large doses, side reactions of the body can be noticed. Large dosesvitamins are dangerous for people with heart disease or diabetes. In case of serious he alth problems, you should always consult your doctor before taking vitamin supplements and usually do not exceed the dosage of 400 IU per day.

Some studies show that taking a high daily dose of synthetic vitamin E, which ranges from 300 to 800 IU, can increase the risk of severe cerebral hemorrhagic stroke by 22%. One of the serious side effects of its excess is also an increased risk of bleeding, especially intracranial.

Always avoid taking vitamin E supplements or any other antioxidant vitamins immediately before and after angioplasty. They can significantly interfere with proper treatment.

Overdose of vitamin E supplements can lead to the following he alth problems:

heart failure in people with diabetes;
increased bleeding disorders;
increased risk of brain, neck and prostate cancer recurrence;
increased bleeding during and after surgery;
increased risk of death after a heart attack or stroke.

High doses of vitamin E (tocopherol) supplements can sometimes lead to nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, fatigue, weakness, headache, blurred vision, rash, bruising, and bleeding. Topical application of vitamin E can irritate the skin in some people. Always do an allergy test on a small area of skin before using it.

Possible drug interactions

Before taking medications with this vitamin, study its main drug interactions:

Doctors forbid taking tocopherol with drugs containing silver or iron.
Vitamin enhances the effect of non-steroidal drugs. This refers to diclofenac, prednisolone or ibuprofen.
Tocopherol reduces the toxic effect of cardiac drugs. The effects of vitamins A and D are also reduced.
If you use a high dose of tocopherol, you may become deficient in vitamin A in the body.
Tocopherol has an antagonistic effect on vitamin K.
The drug enhances the effect of antiepileptic drugs;
If you take colestipol or cholestyramine in parallel, then the effect of tocopherol will decrease dramatically.

Don't forget to tell your doctor what medications you have been taking for a long time. This will affect the course of treatment and dosing with tocopherol.

Issue form

In pharmacies you can buy tocopherol (vitamin E) in capsules. It is available as an oil solution in small vials of various strengths. Tocopherol is also sold in tablets and in the form of injection ampoules.

Use in cosmetology

Vitamin E is responsible for proper skin hydration - so it is essential for dry and sensitive skin. Since it is involved in the natural process of skin regeneration, tocopherol is used in cosmetology as a frequent ingredient in creams, peels andfacial scrubs and hair care products. Often used in combination with vitamin A and vitamin C, which also have strong antioxidant effects.

The action of vitamin E in cosmetics:

Exhibits protective properties due to the ability to integrate into the lipid structure of the skin.
Improves skin hydration as it increases its ability to bind water. Thus, affects its elasticity.
Vitamin E reduces sensitivity to ultraviolet rays, which helps protect the skin from sunburn.
Helps with skin lesions called age spots, which most often appear on the hands and face.
Normalizes the activity of the sebaceous glands. The antioxidant potential that it demonstrates and the ability to be incorporated into the lipid structure of the skin slows down the aging process caused by environmental factors.

Vitamin E promotes wound healing, relieves skin inflammation and brings relief to irritated skin. That's why cosmetics with tocopherol can help relieve the symptoms of eczema or atopic dermatitis.

Clinical studies show that vitamin E helps treat ringworm.

For problems with acne or seborrhea, it is effective to use liquid vitamin E (tocopherol) mixed with a cream for daily use. This will help restore the correct lipid balance of the epidermis, accelerate the regeneration of acne scars, reduce wrinkles and improve skin elasticity.