MODULE 1 Week 2: Vitamin E

Question 1

** Does vitamin E have antioxidant function?

Answer 1

Yes

Question 2

** Are polyunsaturated fats susceptible to oxidation?

Answer 2

Yes

Question 3

** Vitamin E and CNS (vitamin helps prevent??)

Answer 3

Vitamin E important for brain/CNS health because it acts as a antioxidant and prevents excessive (lipid) oxidation

Question 4

Tocopherols v Tocotrienols (what is structural difference?)

Answer 4

Tocopherol = have SATURATED side chains (16 carbons)

Tocotrienols = have UNSATURATED side chains (16 carbons)

Question 5

** Cerebellum & vitamin E (deficiency)

Answer 5

Vitamin E def associated with cerebellar ataxia, which presents as BALANCE ISSUES/COORDINATION

Question 6

** Vitamin E Deficiency presents as:

Answer 6

• Balance/coordination issues
• Reduced MYELINATION (decreased neuromuscular coordination)
• Reduced fertility
• Memory loss/declined cognitive function (because exposes neurons to free-radial damage)

Question 7

** Vitamin E and Alzheimer’s

Answer 7

Effective in reducing neurocognitive decline (because protects neurons from free-radical damage/oxidation)

Question 8

** Celiac and chrons and lipid-soluble vitamin absorption

Answer 8

Chronic digestive impairment via these conditions reduces the capacity for absorption of these vitamins

Question 9

** Food rich in Vitamin E

Answer 9

• nuts
• seeds
• whole grains
• vegetable oils (corn/soybean)
• • leafy green vegetables

Question 10

** Predominant form of Vitamin E found in the blood and tissues

Answer 10

Alpha tocopherol

Question 11

** Where is Vitamin E stored in the body (mostly)?

Answer 11

Adipose tissue

Question 12

** Tocotrienol v tocopherol & digestion

Answer 12

Tocopherol from food does NOT require any digestion prior to absorption

Tocotrienol DOES require digestion (bile salts)

Question 13

** Preference for alpha-tocopherol because?

Answer 13

Because of the specific transfer PROTEIN it is bound to

Question 14

** Alpha or beta tocopherol in VLDL (recirculated by the liver)

Answer 14

Alpha

Question 15

** Principal function of Vitamin E

Answer 15

Lipid-soluble antioxidant! (Prevents lipid peroxidation)

Question 16

** Lipid peroxidation

Answer 16

Oxidative degeneration of lipids (free radicals “steal” electrons from the lipids in cell membranes, resulting in cell/membrane damage)

Question 17

** How does vitamin protect membranes/membrane integrity?

Answer 17

Vit E acts as an ANTIOXIDANT by preventing free-radical oxidative activity that causes damage to the membrane

Question 18

** Free radical/antioxidant, machine gun/bullet proof vest

Answer 18

Free radicals (like a machine gun shooting and damaging cells/tissues etc.)

Antioxidants (like a bullet proof vest preventing that damage)

Question 19

** Vitamin C and glutathione

Answer 19

Taking vitamin C helps to recycle glutathione (master antioxidant)

Question 20

** Most effective form of Vitamin E (as an antioxidant); what about structure allows for this?

Answer 20

Alpha tocopherol; OH group attached to phenol ring with stabilizing electrons basis for antioxidant activity

Question 21

** Vitamin E prevents lipid peroxidation by?

Answer 21

Termination free radicals, “quenching” reactive O2

Question 22

** Non-antioxidant functions of Vitamin E

Answer 22

• cell signaling
• Gene expression
• Neuroprotective, anti carcinogenic, reduce cholesterol (TOCOTRIENOLS)

Question 23

** Recent study on Vitamin E + fish oil and menstrual pain (findings)

Answer 23

Found synergistic effect of Vitamin E and fish oils (EPA/DHA) on reducing dysmenorrhea (significantly)

Question 24

** Supplements to help with estrogen dominance

Answer 24

• Progesterone
• DIM
• Calcium D-glucarate

Question 25

** Vitamin E and reproductive functions

Answer 25

Deficiency of vit E interferes with proper fertility/productive function

Question 26

** 2 main components of brain/neurons (fat type substances)

Answer 26

- cholesterol | - polyunsaturated fats

Question 27

** Ataxia

Answer 27

Abnormal and uncoordinated physical movements

Question 28

Bariatric surgery and nutrient absorption

Answer 28

Altering anatomy with this surgery tends to results in vitamin and mineral deficiencies (because remove organs/mechanisms body needs for proper absorption)

Question 29

** Vitamin E encompasses X compounds (vitamers)?

Answer 29

8

Question 30

Synthetic forms of alpha-tocopherol designated with what 2 letters?

Answer 30

DL

Question 31

Vitamin E is primarily absorbed where?

Answer 31

Jejunum

Question 32

** Absorption range of vitamin E

Answer 32

20-70%

Question 33

** Why is there a tolerable upper limit to vitamin A (hint absorption)

Answer 33

Higher intake associated with REDUCED ABSORPTION

Question 34

** How does vitamin E play a role in glucose/metabolic control? (Related to diabetes)

Answer 34

Vitamin E ENHANCES cellular glucose uptake, which is important for diabetes

Question 35

** Vitamin E RDA, smoking, intense exercise connection

Answer 35

Both smoking and intense exercise created a lot fo OXIDATIVE STRESS so vit E could protect against that (due to antioxidant abilities) - QUENCHES lipid peroxidation RDA MIGHT BE HIGHER FOR THESE PEOPLE

Question 36

** Which tocopherol provides the most vitamin E activity in the US food supply?

Answer 36

GAMmA

Question 37

** What portions of plants provide tocopherols other an alpha?

Answer 37

everything EXCEPT the leaves

Question 38

* Will people following a low-fat diet be high or low in vitamin E?

Answer 38

LOW

Question 39

** A deficiency of alphaTTP (what is?) by what? Leads to vitamin E deficiency (genetic deficiency associated with vit E/what tocopherol?)

Answer 39

Genetic deficiency of ALPHA TOCOPHEROL/ a-tocopherol TRANSFER PROTEIN leads to vit E deficiency

Question 40

** Which lipoproteins carry most of vitamin E in the blood?

Answer 40

LDLs and HDLs

Question 41

* T/F vitamin E is primarily incorporated in the plasma, mitochondrial, and microsomal membranes?

Answer 41

T

Question 42

** Other than adipose, where is Vit E also stored?

Answer 42

Liver Plasma Brain Skeletal muscle etc.

Question 43

** The mechanism by which vitamin E protects the membrane from destruction is....? (Hint peroxidation)

Answer 43

Prevents peroxidation of unsaturated acids in the phospholipids of the membranes

Question 44

** Why are erythrocytes (RBC) membranes particularly vulnerable to oxidation? (Hint O2, fatty acids)

Answer 44

- they are high in fatty acids (easily oxidized) | - often come in contact with oxygen

Question 45

** Is singlet oxygen a reactive or non-reactive compound?

Answer 45

HIGHLY reactive

Question 46

** “quenching” + Vit E

Answer 46

Process by which electronically excited molecules (LIKE SINGLET OXYGEN) are inactived (by vitamin E)

Question 47

* Most effective tocopherol in “quenching”

Answer 47

Alpha

Question 48

*** Vitamin E & heart disease (hint LDLs)

Answer 48

Vitamin can PREVENT oxidation of LDLS Oxidized LDLs are what cause FOAM cells to form Foam cells can break off an cause CLOTS

Question 49

** Alpha tocopherol and atherosclerosis (hint platelets & inflammation)

Answer 49

Vitamin E can prevent PLATELET AGGREGATION & ADHESION that contributes to atherosclerosis AND prevents inflammatory response that causes arterial tissue damage

Question 50

** Vitamin E and prostate cancer

Answer 50

Vitamin E thought to INCREASE RISK of prostate cancer

Question 51

** Alpha-tocopherol and cholesterol

Answer 51

Vit E/alpha-tocopherol involved in CHOLESTEROL SYNTHESIS

Question 52

** Tocotrienols and cholesterol

Answer 52

Exhibit cholesterol lowering abilities

Question 53

** Vitamin E and selenium

Answer 53

Vitamin E function dependent on SELENIUM DEPENDENT glutathione

Question 54

** Is there a tolerable upper limit to vitamin E and why?

Answer 54

1. Yes because high levels can inhibit absorption | 2. High levels can IMPAIR BLEEDING/COAGULATION

Question 55

** Vitamin E and vitamin K (conversion??)

Answer 55

Vitamin E impairs Vit K absorption Inhibits conversion of phylloquinone to menaquinone

Question 56

** Vitamin E and beta carotene

Answer 56

Vitamin E INHIBITS beta carotene absorption in the intestines

Question 57

** Symptoms of vitamin E deficiency

Answer 57

- Hemolytic anemia (because RBCs become fragile because membrane is impacted) - Ataxia - Peripheral neuropathy - Weakness

Question 58

**Gamma tocopherol and US diet

Answer 58

** Gamma tocopherol is MAIN form of vitamin E in US/Standard American diet