Vitamin E

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is found naturally in some foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. "Vitamin E" is the collective name for a group of fat-soluble compounds with distinctive antioxidant activities. Our EZ MELTS Multivitamin supplement formula provides you with the full recommended daily dosage of Vitamin E.

National surveys in the US have found that the diets of most Americans provide less than the recommended levels of vitamin E. Because Vitamin E is fat-soluble, people following a low-fat diet might receive insufficient amounts unless they use dietary supplements, or increase their intakes of nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables.

Vitamin E Benefits

• Vitamin E is widely known as a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances that may prevent potentially disease-producing cell damage that can result from natural bodily processes and from exposure to certain chemicals such as tobacco smoke, radiation, and environmental contaminants.
• Vitamin E is believed to be very helpful in the prevention of numerous conditions and illnesses because of its powerful antioxidant properties. As an antioxidant, Vitamin E's main function is to protect your body tissues from damages caused by free radicals.
• Since Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, it is uniquely suited to intercept free radicals by neutralizing them and thereby preventing the destruction that they may cause. If left unmanaged, free radical damage may hasten the aging process or lead to the development of cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancers. [2]
• Several studies have suggested that vitamin E may enhance specific aspects of the immune response which decline as we grow older. A study done by the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tutts University, Boston, indicated that elderly adults who took 200 mg/day of synthetic alpha-tocopherol for several months showed an increased antibody formation.
• Additional studies have yielded results that show vitamin E’s potential to decrease the risk of heart attacks or death from heart diseases. A study done by the Division of Epidemiology at the University Of Minnesota School Of Public Health studies suggested that antioxidant vitamins like vitamin E may protect against coronary heart disease, as found among the 5133 Finnish men and women observed.

Vitamin E - The EZ MELTS Way!

Additional Information

Vitamin E Sources

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient renowned for its antioxidant property and it exists in eight different forms in nature which are called isomers. Out of these Vitamin E isomers, the most active form in human biology and nutrition is known as alpha-tocopherol. In terms of the daily recommended allowance for humans, Vitamin E measurements are based on the alpha-tocopherol equivalents of vitamin E. Even though our body needs Vitamin E, it cannot make enough by its own hence the need to get vitamin E from other sources like wheat germ oil and also in nuts, seeds, vegetable oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, olive oil, tomatoes, spinach and other leafy vegetables. It can equally be obtained through supplements. ^[1]

Naturally occurring vitamin E exists in eight chemical forms that have varying levels of biological activity. Alpha-tocopherol is the only form of Vitamin E that is recognized to meet human requirements.

Recommended Dosage of Vitamin E

The best way to get the daily requirement of essential vitamins is to eat a balanced diet that contains a variety of foods from the food guide pyramid. Specific recommendations depend on age, gender, and other factors (such as pregnancy). Women who are pregnant or producing breast milk (lactating) need higher amounts.

Vitamin E Side Effects

In November, 2004, the American Heart Association stated that high amounts of vitamin E can be harmful, that taking 400 IU per day or higher may increase the risk of death. Experts stated that vitamin E might increase the chance of having a serious stroke called hemorrhagic stroke, which is bleeding into the brain. Some research shows that taking vitamin E in doses of 300-800 IU each day might increase the chance of this kind of stroke by 22%. However, in contrast, vitamin E might decrease the chance of having a less severe stroke called an ischemic stroke. High doses can also cause nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, fatigue, weakness, headache, blurred vision, rash, bruising, and bleeding. Taking smaller amounts of Vitamin E, such as those found in a typical multivitamin, is not harmful. Vitamin E can interact with large doses of blood thinners or aspirin; chemotherapy or seizure medications. In large dosages it can also reduce the benefits of vitamin K, zinc and cholesterol medications.[3]