Vitamin E can be used as a natural remedy to effectively treat a number of health conditions. It is actually a family of eight antioxidant compounds. These consist of four tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta) and four tocotrienols (also alpha through delta). The alpha tocopherol form is the one found in the largest quantities in the human body. Small amounts of the gamma form are also found.
As an antioxidant, alpha-tocopherol prevents cell damage by preventing the oxidation of fats and the formation of free radicals. It also protects other fat-soluble vitamins from destruction by oxygen, and aids in the utilization of vit A. It protects the LDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) from oxidation as well. Oxidized LDL cholesterol has been tied to the development of cardiovascular disease. It is also known to inhibit blood clotting, and has other functions related to the activity of the immune system.
The most common dietary form of vit E is the gamma-tocopherol form. However, this form is not absorbed by the body in any significant quantity because the liver selectively chooses the alpha-tocopherol form to deliver to the tissues. Approximately ten times more of the alpha form is found in the blood than the gamma form. However, the gamma form may have some unique benefits in suppressing colon cancer according to recent studies. This makes getting a sufficient amount of dietary vit E even more important.
A deficiency of this vitamin may result in damage to red blood cells and to the destruction of nerves. Signs of deficiency can include infertility (in both men and women), menstrual problems, neuromuscular impairment, shortened lifespan of red blood cells, miscarriage, and degeneration of the uterus. People with impaired balance and coordination and/or damage to the retina may also be deficient in this nutrient. Individuals with severe malnutrition, or those with fat malabsorption problems such as those associated with cystic fibrosis, cholestatic liver disease or Crohn's disease may have a vit E deficiency.
True vit E deficiency is rare, but lower than required intake is fairly common. However, one study showed that 27 to 41 percent of the people studied had blood levels below the level at which there appears to be an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Low levels of vit E have also been linked to both bowel cancer and breast cancer.
The d-alpha-tocopherol form of vitamin E is the most potent. Also, natural sources of vit E are better than synthetic ones because the natural ones are much more usable by the body. Synthetic vit E is only 67% as usable by the body as the natural form. Read labels carefully. The natural form will be listed as either d-alpha-tocopherol, d-alpha-tocopherol acetate, or d-alpha-tocopherol succinate. The synthetic form will be listed as dl-alpha-tocopherol or allrac alpha-tocopherol (watch out for the l after the d).
The synthetic form only costs about half as much as the natural form, but it has significantly less potency. Also, some vitamin manufacturers have been known to mix 10 percent natural vit E with 90 percent synthetic, then label it as natural. Make sure that the label says 100% potency or 100% natural vit E.
If you cannot absorb fat, there is a water-soluble form of vit E available from different suppliers.
What about the esterified vit E, otherwise known as tocopherol phosphate? This is a relatively new product that is being sold as vit E. This product is not actually recognized by the FDA as being vit E and the phosphate form is not natural, nor are there any studies proving that the body even needs this substance. It is probably best to use only tested products. There are esterified forms of alpha-tocopherol acetate and succinate available, and you should use one of them if you want to try ester-E.
Ester-E, when administered by injection, may be beneficial in the treatment of cancerous tumors, and although the ester form has no antioxidant activity, it does appear to help cause the death of cancer cells. This compound must be administered by injection, because the ester form would be converted to plain alpha-tocopherol in the gut and none would actually reach the tissues.
The following foods contain vitamin E: avacados, cold-pressed vegetable oils (olive, soybean, corn, canola, safflower, and sunflower), dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts), seeds, and whole grains. Significant quantities of this vitamin are also found in brown rice, cornmeal, dulse, eggs, kelp, desiccated liver, milk, oatmeal, organ meats, soybeans, sweet potatoes, watercress, wheat, and wheat germ.
Herbs that contain vit E include alfalfa, bladderwrack, dandelion, dong quai, flaxseed, nettle, oat straw, raspberry leaf, and rose hips.
The body needs zinc in order to maintain the proper amount of vit E in the blood.
Vit E that has oxidized a free radical can be revitalized by vitamin C and enabled to battle additional free radicals.
Adding vit E to fats and oils prevents them from becoming rancid. The oxidation of fats is a key factor in the formation of plaque adhering to blood vessel walls.
If you take both vit E and iron supplements, take them at different times of the day. Inorganic forms of iron (such as ferrous sulfate) destroy vit E. Organic iron (ferrous gluconate or ferrous fumarate) leaves vit E intact.
If you are taking blood thinning medication, do not take more than 200IU of vit E daily.
If you suffer from diabetes, rheumatic heart disease, or an overactive thyroid, do not take more than the recommended dose.
If you have high blood pressure, start with a small amount, such as 100IU daily, and increase slowly to the desired amount.
If you have retinitis pigmentosa that is not associated with vit E deficiency, do not take any supplemental vit E.
This information is not intended to diagnose or treat any specific condition, nor is it intended to replace the advice of your healthcare professional.
Sources
Balch, Phyllis A., CNC. "Prescription for Nutritional Healing". Garden City, NY.: Avery Publishing Group, 2006
Ritchason, Jack, ND. "The Little Herb Encyclopedia". Pleasant Grove, UT.: Woodland Health Books, 1995
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