Vitamin E
Also Known As: Vitamin E, Tocopherols, Tocotrienols
Vitamin E refers to a group of eight fat-soluble compounds that include both tocopherols and tocotrienols. There are many different forms of vitamin E, of which γ-tocopherol is the most common in the North American diet. γ-Tocopherol can be found in corn oil, soybean oil, margarine and dressings.α-Tocopherol, the most biologically active form of vitamin E, is the second most common form of vitamin E in the North American diet. This variant of vitamin E can be found most abundantly in wheat germ oil, sunflower, and safflower oils. It is a fat-soluble antioxidant that stops the production of reactive oxygen species formed when fat undergoes oxidation.
Health effects
While it was initially hoped that vitamin E supplementation would have a positive effect on health, research has not supported these conclusions.[9] Vitamin E does not decrease mortality in adults, even at large doses,[10] and may slightly increase it.[11] It does not improve blood sugar control in an unselected group of people with diabetes mellitus[10] or decrease the risk of stroke.[12] Daily supplementation of vitamin E does not decrease the risk of prostate cancer and may increase it.[13] Studies on its role in age related macular degeneration are ongoing as, even though it is of a combination of dietary antioxidants used to treat the condition, it may increase the risk.[14] A Japanese study in 2012 found that vitamin E may contribute to osteoporosis.[15]
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