Vitamin E

Excess or overconsumption of E

1. Not stored in liver, but in adipose tissue 2. Too much interferes with Vitamin K's part in blood clotting, could cause hemorrhage especially when taking anticoagulants 3. Can produce gastrointestinal issues, diarrhea and nausea

Sources of E

1. Oils from Plants and Plant 2. Products are best sources 3. Salad oils, margarine, shortening 4. Nuts and seeds 5. Protected from oxidation because of unsaturated fatty acids in plant oils

Who is at risk for deficiency/

1. Preterm infants: Vitamin E transferred during late pregnancy-hemolysis 2. Smokers: smoke destroys Vitamin E in lungs 3. Adults on low-fat diet or with fat malabsorption

RDA

1. RDA: 15 mg/day of alpha-tocopherol (most active and natural form) or 22.4 mg/day of synthetic version 2. Americans consume ~2/3 of RDA from food, normally 3. Daily Value used on food/supplement label is 30 mg/day

supplements

1. Typically only half of stereoisomers are biologically active in synthetic versions 2. Need more mg in a supplement than natural 3. More expensive versions only contain biologically active stereoisomers

antioxidant function

1. Vitamin E can donate hydrogen or electrons to free radicals in cell membranes, making them more stable 2. Critical to cells constantly exposed to high oxygen levels (ie: RBCs and cells in lung lining)

Functions of E

1. antioxidant 2. Essential for muscle and CNS formation, early in human development 3. Improves absorption of Vitamin A when dietary intake of Vitamin A is low 4. Helps metabolize iron in cells 5. Helps maintain nervous tissue and function of immune system

Characterisitics of E

1. fat soluble 2. essential for fertility in animals 3. has 8 types

why is oxidation such a big deal?

1. E Found mostly in adipose tissue and lipid bilayers 2. Lipids found here are especially susceptible to being attacked by free radicals, potential for oxidation 3. Cell membrane can be destabilized, leading to decreased ability of cell to function correctly

effect of deficiency

Hemolysis: breakage of cell membrane, mostly in preterm infants