Recent studies show vitamin E has the power to treat everything from
cardiovascular disease to eye infections. And, for cosmetic junkies, its
antioxidant properties may have the ability to repair sun-damaged skin.
Vitamin E is an important and often underrated nutrient that's
essential to your health. Read on to learn more.
Vitamin E is a fat soluble antioxidant vitamin that helps to neutralize
potentially damaging free radicals in our body. It exists in eight
different forms, d-alpha-tocopherol being the most active form and one
of the most powerful biologically active antioxidants. Each form has a
different level of potency (functional use) in the body. The tocopherol
and tocotrienol subfamilies are each composed of alpha, beta, gamma and
delta vitamins having unique biological effects, with generally
declining activity; e.g. delta is far less active than the alpha form.
As a supplement, Vitamin E has a number of health benefits for the body.
Vitamin E is particularly important for the protection of our cell
membranes as well as keeping your skin, heart and circulation, nerves,
muscles and red blood cells healthy. Antioxidants such as vitamin E
protect your cells against the effects of dangerous free radicals,
potentially damaging by-products of your body’s metabolism. Free
radicals can cause cell damage that may lead to the development of
cardiovascular disease and cancer.
One or more members of the vitamin E family may also reduce cellular
aging, inhibit the potentially damaging peroxynitrite radical, inhibit
melanoma (skin cancer) cell growth, prevent abnormal blood clotting,
synergize with vitamin A to protect the lungs against pollutants,
protect nervous system and retina, lower the risk of ischemic and
coronary heart disease, lower the risk of certain kinds of cancer,
protect immune function and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease,
particularly if high doses are taken in combination with vitamin C.
Vitamins E, A, and C can all be found in a good liquid multivitamin.
Vitamin E also may block the formation of nitrosamines, which are
carcinogens formed in the stomach from nitrites consumed in the diet. It
also may protect you against the development of cancers by enhancing
immune function. Some evidence links higher intake of vitamin E with a
decreased incidence of prostate cancer and breast cancer.
Among other benefits of vitamin E, especially when taken in amounts above the RDA, are:
intakes of vitamin e higher than the daily-recommended requirement have
shown that vitamin e may be useful in treating or possibly preventing:
•menstrual pain
•low sperm count
•inflammation of eye tissues
•cataracts
•restless leg syndrome or relief from muscle cramping
•Parkinson’s disease
•rheumatoid arthritis
•asthma
•various diabetes related complications and maybe helpful in treating and preventing diabetes itself
•cardiovascular disease
In terms of skin health and skin care, vitamin e benefits are numerous.
In fact, skin care products that contain vitamin e have become an
essential part of healthy skin care.
First of all, because of its antioxidant activity, vitamin e is vital in
protecting skin cells from ultra violet light, pollution, drugs, and
other elements that produce cell damaging free radicals. It is believed
that vitamin e is most effective in its natural alcohol form rather than
its acetate form where it is a less effective antioxidant. Watch for
this in the labeling of skin care products.
The benefits of vitamin e for healthy skin care also include its ability
to regulate vitamin a in the body, which itself is important for
healthy skin.
Vitamin e added to lotions, creams, and other skin care products, as
well as taken orally, plays a role in the anti-aging of skin. It helps
skin look younger by reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Also, free radicals are believed to play an important role in skin
aging and therefore the antioxidant activity is quite valuable for this
skin problem.
Vitamin e lotions provide some benefit in preventing and treating
sunburns. These lotions protect the epidermis layer of the skin from
early stages of ultra violet light damage. Vitamin e preparations also
increase the effectiveness of sunscreens. Such lotions do not work
immediately. They must be applied about 20 minutes before sun exposure
in order to allow the vitamin e to be absorbed deep into the epidermis
layer.
Vitamin e can aid in the treatment of various skin diseases or skin
conditions. Topical applications such as those used to treat psoriasis
is one of the benefits of vitamin e. Orally ingested vitamin e can help
treat ery thema (a skin inflammation that results in reddish, painful,
and tender lumps).
One of the most important benefits of vitamin e is the prevention of
skin cancer. This occurs because of its sun protection quality and of
course its powerful antioxidant properties, which help reduce or prevent
sun damage.
Other:
•vitamin e products help reduce the appearance of stretch marks
•vitamin e can help prevent the appearance of age spots
•it helps maintain the skin’s oil balance during the cleansing process
•it reduces transepidermal water loss from skin and strengthens the skin’s barrier function
