Vitamin E has a high value for the organism, participating in virtually all its biochemical processes. Its deficiency causes a cascade of negative consequences for all organs and systems. The benefits and use of vitamin E at home are due to a whole range of its medicinal properties that are used in the therapy and prevention of a variety of diseases.
- Value of vitamin
- Useful properties of
- Indications
- Where is
- Deficiency symptoms
- Features of application
- Harm
- Contraindications
Vitamin value
Vitamin E is presented in biological environment in 8 isomers derived from tocola( groups of tocopherols and tocotrienols).This fat-soluble oily substance actively participates in cellular metabolism: the synthesis of proteins and heme, tissue respiration, cell proliferation and so on.
Vitamin E, or tocopherol, effectively prevents the process of pathological peroxidation, thereby fighting the aging of the body, has strong antioxidant properties, protecting against the negative effects of toxins, free radicals. In this case, this substance is resistant to heating, the action of acids, alkalis.
Daily norm of vitamin E for different categories of persons:
| Group of persons, age | Norm, milligram |
|---|---|
| Children under 1 year | 3-5 |
| 1-6 years | 5-7 |
| 7-14 years | 10-12 |
| Adults | 12 |
| Womenduring pregnancy and lactation | 16 or more |
Excess intake of this vitamin in the body is inferred naturally: with urine and feces.
Its deficiency adversely affects the functioning of the whole organism, it can cause anemia, weakness, deterioration of the skin, hair, nails and so on. The peculiarity of tocopherol in the ability to compensate for the shortage of other vitamins and increase their digestibility.
to table of contents ^Useful properties of
To determine whether it is useful to drink vitamin E, perhaps when studying its effect on the functioning of the body. The curative effect of tocopherol is due to its presence in the main processes of cellular metabolism. Useful properties of vitamin E include the following.
- Reduction of oxidative processes, inhibition of aging of the organism at the cellular level.
- Increased immunity, suppression of inflammatory phenomena in the body. Especially vitamin E is useful for children, for which it is prescribed for the treatment and prevention of colds.
- Improves the ability of tissues to regenerate. Tocopherol reduces the severity of scars, scars on the skin, protects it from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation.
- Stimulation of the formation of new capillaries, increased tone, permeability of the vascular network, improved circulation of blood.
- Anticoagulant properties help purify the vascular bed from blood clots, prevent thrombosis.
- When planning a pregnancy and directly during it, vitamin E is very useful for women. It is not without reason that in translation from Greek tocopherol sounds like bearer of offspring( tosos - "offspring", phero - "to give birth").This female vitamin is important for the full development of the fetus and prevention of miscarriage, it improves the functioning of the placenta, prevents its detachment. It is also prescribed for the normalization of the menstrual cycle and the elimination of ovarian dysfunction.
- Vitamin E is useful for men, it is recommended to take it for the purpose of increasing the activity of spermatozoa, the quality of sperm, the prevention of prostate cancer.
- Stabilization of hormone imbalance in the body, as tocopherol is involved in their synthesis. This vitamin is used for violations in the endocrine system. With diabetes, it helps reduce blood sugar.
- Useful properties of vitamin E for mammary glands are due to the stimulation of their functioning. It promotes breast growth, skin elasticity, slowing down signs of aging. Tocopherol actively fights against mastopathy, it is used for its prevention.
- The antioxidant properties of this vitamin help protect the body from free radicals, remove toxins, chemicals, radionuclides, reduce cholesterol, prevent the onset of bladder cancer and other cancers.
- Promotes the assimilation of vitamin A, for which it is useful to use vitamin E with retinol together.
- Positive effect on the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, the nervous system, improved blood supply, nutrition of the heart and brain tissue, preventing the onset and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
- Improved tissue respiration, nutrition. Vitamin E is useful for infants, for which it is prescribed to women during lactation. Especially it concerns premature and weak children, who need help in restoring the body's functions.
- Hypotensive properties of tocopherol are used in the treatment of hypertension and other cardiovascular pathologies.
- Participates in the production of collagen and elastic fibers, which provides an improvement in the skin condition, its elasticity. It promotes retention of moisture in the layers of the dermis, prevents the formation of senile pigmentation. This explains why vitamin E is beneficial for the skin of the face.
- Increased physical and mental endurance of the body.
- Vitamin E is useful for hair, for which it is prescribed to enhance blood circulation in the tissues of the head, improve their nutrition, the formation of new cells in the hair sacs.
Indications
The use of tocopherol for treatment and prevention, possibly under the following conditions:
- hormonal imbalance;
- dysfunction of the immune system;
- malfunctions in the menstrual cycle, premenstrual syndrome, menopause;
- pregnancy planning, threat of miscarriage, the period of bearing of the child;
- prevention of myocardial infarction;
- pathology of the heart and blood vessels;
- respiratory diseases( asthma);
- therapy or prevention of cataract;
- chronic and prolonged disease;
- enhanced physical activity;
- oncological diseases;
- recovery after severe conditions, surgical interventions, chemotherapy;
- alcoholism, smoking;
- pathology and dysfunction of the nervous and muscular systems;
- dysfunction of the digestive system( liver, pancreas, gallbladder).
It should be noted that people suffering from cardiosclerosis, having a history of stroke or myocardial infarction, as well as children, pregnant and lactating women, use vitamin E is possible only on the advice of a doctor and in strictly specified dosages.
to contents ^Where is the
The main food sources of tocopherol are fatty vegetable products.
The highest concentration of this substance is present in wheat germ oil. It is believed that the regular consumption of various vegetable oils( sunflower, olive, pumpkin, sesame, almond) provides the necessary for the body intake of tocopherol.
However, it is not recommended to heat them, it is desirable to use a natural product, for example, as a dressing for salad.
A lower concentration of vitamin E is available in butter. In a significant amount tocopherol is presented in nuts( almonds, peanuts), cereals, mangoes, avocados, herbs, seeds, corn. Also this vitamin is found in milk, cheese, liver, meat, fish, carrots, egg yolk.
Some herbs also have a significant concentration of tocopherol: dandelion, nettle, raspberry leaves, flax, alfalfa.
The presence of vitamin E in food is represented by quantitative indicators in the following table:
| Kind of food source | Tocopherol content per 100 grams of product, milligram |
|---|---|
| Wheat germ oil | to 400 |
| Soybean oil | 113 |
| Corn oil | 92 |
| Sunflower oil | 44 |
| Sunflower seeds | 31,2 |
| Almonds | 24,6 |
| Walnuts | 21 |
| Peanut Butter | 13 |
| Olive oil | 12,1 |
| Peanuts | 9 |
| Corn | 6 |
| Dried apricots | 5 |
| Beans | 4 |
| Rosehips | 4 |
| Oat and semolina | 3 |
| Spinach | 2,5 |
| Squids | 2 |
| Egg | 2 |
| Butter | 1 |
| Broccoli | 0,78 |
| Carrots | 0,63 |
| Tomato | 0,4 |
| Cheese | 0,3 |
It is important to know that vitamin E, contained in food, is resistant to acids, alkalis and temperatures up to +200 degrees. Practically it does not change its content in products when cooking, sterilizing and preserving.
Symptoms of deficiency
The lack of vitamin E causes a worsening of the general state of the body and has the following characteristic signs:
- a decrease in sexual desire, in men - a deterioration in sperm quality, in women - malfunctions in the menstrual cycle, dryness of the vaginal mucosa,his unpleasant symptoms( hyperhidrosis, mood changes, hot flashes, etc.);
- weakness of muscle tissue;
- decreased immune responses;
- during pregnancy, pregnancy complications may develop;
- shortness of breath;
- appearance or enhancement of pigmentation on the skin, their dryness;
- deterioration of hair and nails;
- a long process of healing of lesions on the skin;
- in men may have the appearance of seizures and pain in the muscles of the legs and, as a result, the appearance of lameness;
- in children is observed lethargy, apathy;
- attention violation;
- malfunction in the functioning of the myocardium;
- headache;
- metabolic disorders;
- is nervousness, depression, irritability.
Features of the application of
In order for vitamin E to be beneficial, it is necessary to administer to the doctor's prescriptionand in this dose, since the negative consequences can arise both in the deficiency of tocopherol, and its excess. It is necessary to know the following features of the application:
- When establishing a dose of vitamin E, it is necessary to distinguish between a natural substance and a synthetic substance. The first has the mark "d", the second - "dl".Biological activity of natural tocopherols is 2 times stronger than synthetic ones. Therefore, the doses of the latter are usually higher. Vitamin E can be presented immediately in 2 types: both in natural and synthetic, but it is preferable to choose one of them to establish the exact dosage.
- You can use tocopherol for the face skin not only inside, but also apply it externally or add it to the cream, for the hair - use masks with this substance( usually it is combined with burdock oil).
- At simultaneous reception of several vitamins it is necessary to consider their interaction. Vitamins A, C and D are compatible with tocopherol. Selenium increases its activity. Tocopherol increases the digestibility of magnesium. However, there are also antagonists - for example, iron, with excess of which there is a need for vitamin E.
- Taking tocopherol together with anticoagulants( eg Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Clopidogrel, Warfarin and others) can cause bleeding. To the same effect can lead and its high doses.
- Tocopherol increases the activity of drugs from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs( Diclofenac, Ibuprofen and so on), as well as steroid agents.
- The dosage of vitamin E in capsules is determined, depending on the disease. On average, it is 100-300 milligrams per day. Course - 1-2 months. Take the drug is recommended during meals, use on an empty stomach is not desirable.
- Due to the antioxidant properties of tocopherol it should not be taken during chemotherapy and radiation treatment of tumor diseases in order to avoid a decrease in their effectiveness.
- Using food sources of vitamin E, you need to keep in mind that they contain an increased number of calories. In this case, it should be borne in mind that eating baking and sweet foods can reduce digestibility of tocopherol.
Harm
Negative effects on the intake of vitamin E are rare and are usually associated with the use of high doses of the substance. A slight excess of the dosage usually does not have pronounced manifestations, and the excess is output in a natural way: with urine and feces. However, a significant overdose or prolonged intake of a vitamin can seriously damage a person's health. The signs of an excess of tocopherol include:
- vision impairment;
- dizziness and headache;
- lethargy, apathy;
- increased blood pressure;
- nausea, hepatomegaly, diarrhea;
- bleeding disorder, bleeding;
- pain in the stomach and heart;
- increased respiratory rate;
- cramps and soreness in the muscles.
Usually, reducing the dose or rejecting the vitamin eliminates negative phenomena and normalizes health.
to table of contents ^Contraindications
Contraindications to taking tocopherol are:
- reactions of skin hypersensitivity;
- reception of iron-containing drugs and anticoagulants;
- individual intolerance;
With great care and strictly on the recommendation of the doctor, vitamin E is used for cardiosclerosis, myocardial infarction, thromboembolism.