Fat soluble vitamins and health - Vitamin E

16 important questions on Fat soluble vitamins and health - Vitamin E

What is the function of vitamin E?

It is a fat-soluble, radical trapping antioxidant in membranes.
It also has roles in cell signaling, regulation of genes, inhibition of cell proliferation, and platelet aggregation. These effects are specific for alpha-tocopherol and are independent of the antioxidant properties of the vitamin.

How is vitamin E absorbed?

It is absorbed together with lipids in the small intestine, depending on good pancreatic function and secretion of bile.

It is then transported to the lymphatic system and the liver.

What kind of vitamin E is mostly present in the liver and the blood?

Alpha-tocopherol
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Which protein transports alpha-tocopherol?

alpha-tocopherol transfer protein (alpha-TTP)

Where are the highest content of vitamin E and what is the turnover there?

Adopose tissue (slow turnover)
liver (fast turnover)
muscles (fast turnover)

What do free radicals do?

Damage the tissue the cells because they take away a electron from an other compount. This compounds needs to get a electron back enz.

What does vitamin E do with free radicals?

When the tail of vitamin E is oxidized by a free radical it moves to the surface where the head of the vitamin E can donate a hydrogen. In this way vitamin E pulls free radicals out of fatty membranes for neutralization.

It can not do this again until it is regenerated. (This is done by vitamin C)

What is importend to realize about the anti-oxidant properties studies of vitamin A?

They have used relatively strong oxidants as the source of radicals.

Studies have also shown that low concentrations of oxidants might result in vitamijn A turning into a Pro-oxidant rather then a Anti-oxidant.

What does vitamin A to LDL?

LDL transport cholestrol trough the body away from the liver to the tussue. It the oxidated form it can create atherosclerotic plaques and this can cause CHD.
Vitamin A can protect LDL form being oxidized and therfore prevents hard desease. However no prove was found in clinical intervention trails.

What is a function of alpha-tocopherol with a protein?

It inhibets a protien that is involved in the rapid increase of cells

What is the function of vitamin E in blood vessels?

It inhibits them from blood clothing and widens the blood vessels. This makes it easier for blood to go trough narrowed blood vessels.

What is the function of alpha-tocopherol with the arterial wall?

It helps to maintain a normal flexibility of the wall.

What does alpha-tocopherol do with a genes?

It can regulate geen expression. The metabolic significance is not clear yet.

What is the effect of a vitamin E deficiency?

Vitamin E deficiency results in damage to nerves, muscle weakness and loss of vision.
Early diagnostic signs are increased breaking of red blood cells (the classic sign of vitamin E deficiency) and leakage of muscle enzymes into the blood.

In premature infants, vitamin E deficiency is associated with having insufficient red blood cells.
The main reason that premature infants are prone to vitamin E deficiency is because their digestive tract is underdeveloped.

What are the most important sources of vitamin E?

vegetable oils, nuts, whole grains, wheat germ (tarwekiemen)

What are the DRI for vitamin A dependent on?

Not on gender, purly on age. The more you need when you get older

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