Dubbed the “gold of youth,” vitamin E boasts potent antioxidant properties that shield cells from damage caused by free radicals-unstable molecules linked to aging and disease.
The Antioxidant Powerhouse: Why Vitamin E Matters
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Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient crucial for protecting cells and supporting overall health, from immune function to skin vitality.
- Research suggests it may help prevent atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers.
- Deficiency can lead to nerve pain and retinal damage.
- While safe in food, high-dose supplements may carry risks.
Ramiro Heredia, a medical clinic specialist at the José de San Martín Hospital de Clínicas, affirms that this antioxidant effect is one of vitamin E’s defining characteristics. This fat-soluble substance not only defends against harmful agents but also contributes to the health of the blood, brain, and skin.
A History Rooted in Growth and Development
“It was the fifth vitamin discovered,” Heredia explains, “and its scientific name, tocopherol, comes from the Greek toc – meaning child – and phero – to bring, in Spanish, as it fulfills essential functions in the normal development of the fetus and children.”
Beyond its role in development, Heredia adds that vitamin E’s antioxidant activity is implicated in the prevention of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease (by protecting low-density lipoproteins, or LDL, from oxidation), and cancer.
Delaying Aging and Protecting Against degenerative Diseases
A study published in the scientific journal Ageing Research Reviews concludes that “vitamin E is considered one of the most powerful fat-soluble antioxidants to delay aging and prevent some degenerative diseases related to age.”
Furthermore,its compounds protect and improve the skin by promoting circulation,dilating blood vessels,and preventing the formation of blood clots,as detailed in research on the “Effect of vitamin C and vitamin E supplementation on endothelial function: a systematic review.”
“Today it has also been proven that vitamin E plays a role in preventing thrombosis,” Heredia adds, noting that further studies are still needed to analyze the relationship between vitamin E and alterations in immune function, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, cataracts, or hip fractures.
Recognizing and Addressing Deficiency
A very low level of vitamin E can cause nerve pain (neuropathy) and damage to the retina (retinopathy), according to a report published by the Mayo Clinic.
Sources and Safe Intake
Vitamins, as organic substances, can be obtained through a diet combining foods of plant and animal origin or, sometimes, through supplements synthesized by the body, even in part.
foods rich in vitamin E include nuts and seeds.
“Consuming vitamin E present in food is not hazardous or harmful,” report the National Institutes of Health of the United States.Though, they caution that high doses of vitamin E in supplement form may increase the risk of bleeding (reduced ability to clot after a cut or wound) and serious bleeding in the brain. The upper intake limit for adults is 1,000 mg/day for both natural and synthetic vitamin E supplements.
