Vitamin E And Its Benefits

Oxygen is considered as one of the primary components of nature that supports life. The same oxygen, when inside the body, through certain molecules, becomes overly reactive and starts causing damage through the formation of free radicals. This is called oxidative stress. Helping to prevent oxidative stress is an antioxidant known as Vitamin E and thereby preventing cell damage and aging of the cells.

What the body does is absorb cholesterol which is a fatty substance in foods that is also transferred from the liver to different tissues to be stored as fats. The molecule that is responsible for carrying it in the bloodstream is called Low Density Lipoproteins or LDL. When LDL gets oxidized, what happens is that they will react with cholesterol and a waxy fat substance called plaque is deposited on the walls of the arteries, which results in the stopping of blood flow, high blood pressure and cardio-vascular diseases.

Vitamin E helps prevent the conversion of cholesterol into plaque, and this is done by alpha-tocopherol, not any other form of vitamin E, because liver places it preferentially in the bloodstream through a protein called alpha-tocopherol transfer protein.

Vitamin E and its effects in preventing cancer has not conclusively been established. Reduced risk of cancer is associated with an intake of vitamin E-rich foods and this is according to a study by The American Association of Cancer Research. On the other hand, there is little evidence that Vitamin E has protective effect against breast cancer in women after menopause and this was according to a study done by Iowa Women’s Health Study. Researchers then noted that aside from Vitamin E, some foods that are foods rich in antioxidants may be able to protect from cancer.

In numerous studies, the effect of vitamin E in protecting the skin from ultraviolet radiation, whose harmful effects include photodermatitis, an allergic type reaction to the UV rays of the sun has been established. Vitamin E, whether taken through foods or applied topically, has been shown to protect skin cell membranes.

Besides these benefits, vitamin E may protect from Alzheimer’s, cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eyes), and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Also, vitamin E may be beneficial in healing wounds and burns, reducing scars. For athletes, the property of combating oxidative stress may be useful because their oxygen utilization rate is higher than those not doing exercise, which results in increased generation of free radicals.

If there are no proper conclusions from studies, then it would be premature to opt for supplements without the advice of medical practitioner. It is, however, generally recommended to take several servings of vegetables and fruits that are rich in antioxidants.

Find treatment options for Gardnerella Vaginalis treatment.