Micronutrients Vitamin E Flashcards
What are tocopherols?
8 naturally occuring anti-oxidant forms
What is the only form of tocopherol that our bodies can use? Where is it found?
Alpha-tocopherol. Found in circulation and tissues
Can alpha-tocopherol and vitamin E be used interchangeabley?
Yes
What are dietary sources of Vitamin E
– Vegetable oils, nuts, meat, poultry, eggs and whole
grains (food high in FAT)
What is the synthetic form of vitamin E called in supplumentations?
dl-a-tocopherol
What is natural vitamin E called in terms of supplementation?
d-a-tocopherol
What provides more biological activity in terms of vitamin E supplementation?
Natural (d-a-tocopherol)
What unit are the contents of supplements of VIt. E usually expressed in
IU
Why is Vitamin E the syntheitc form sold in higher doses often?
To compensate for it being the less active form
Does vit.E have any metabolic function>
No
Is vitamin E an anti-oxidant?
It is a lipid-soluble anti-oxidant
What 2 things does vit.E protect because it is a lipid soluble anti-oxidant?
- Protects cell membranes against oxidative damage by free radical
- Protects lipids from oxidation
How common are vit. E deficiencies?
Very Rare
What diseases are vit.E defiences found with?
Fat malabsorption (such as cystic fibrosis)
What are the risks of Vit.E (side effect?
Risk of bleeding at high doses (especially with synthetic form)
- Can inhibit platelet aggregation
Cause with Vitamin E and warfarin together because?
May increase risk of bleeding at high doses (>800IU)
What are the therapeutic uses of Vit. E
- Alzheimers
- CVD
- Wound healing/Scary prevention
- Cancer
What does Vit. E do in relation to Alzheimers?
May slow progression by 6 months (2000 iu SYNTEHTIC form)
- No evidence for prevention of dementia
What does Vit. E do in relation to CVD?
- Results have been largely negative with some harmful outcomes (increased risk of HF, mortality, stroke)
- using (400 IU)
What does Vit. E do in relation to Wound healing/scar prevention (topical)
Not showen to be effective but popular for this
What does Vit. E do in relation to Cancer?
– 400 IU of Vit E every other day did not reduce the
overall risk of cancer in men after 8 yrs (Physician’s
Health Study II)
– May actually ↑ risk of prostate cancer (SELECT
trial) – supplements, not foods
Can supplementing with Vit.E be harmful
Yes
