Vitamin E and its functions

Vitamin E and its functions!

Vitamin E or better known as a-tocopherol is a very useful vitamin towards our organism for different functions, it is a liposoluble vitamin and therefore is absorbed by our small intestine thanks to passive diffusion.

In order to be absorbed however it needs to be made soluble through the formation of small micelles, thanks to the help of bile salts, which will then be subsequently hydrolyzed by esterases and localized at the level of our intestinal mucosa.

What are the functions of vitamin E?

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant which protects us from the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are the major cause of premature aging and are also responsible for degenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer ect.

Vitamin E, like all natural antioxidants, exerts a sort of protection against complications associated with diseases such as:

Cataract, coronary damage, atherosclerotic plaques.

It is also very important for the skin and in fact helps our skin to defend itself from attacks by free radicals and to rediscover elasticity and tone that are lost with aging. In addition the antioxidant properties of Vitamin E can protect our cells from carcinogenesis through the deactivation of radicals formed by the processes of cellular respiration, the blocking of the peroxidation of DNA and proteins and the deactivation of mutagenic agents.

It also produces energy, playing an important role in cell respiration of all the muscles, especially cardiac and skeletal. Moreover, the muscles and nerves need less oxygen to operate thanks to vitamin E which also causes a dilation of blood vessels, thus allowing a greater flow of blood to the heart.

Vitamin E is also an effective antithrombin in the blood circulation, since it inhibits the coagulation of blood by preventing the formation of thrombi. It also helps bring nutrients to the cells, strengthens the capillary walls and protects the red blood cells from destruction caused by poisons such as hydrogenated peroxide (a free radical) in the blood.

VITAMIN E AND MEDICINES/DRUGS

Also being completely natural and can intervene by hindering or increasing the action of some drugs, we must know how to behave and know the various interactions:

• Drugs that control cholesterol: vitamin E, as well as other antioxidants such as vitamin C, beta-carotene and selenium, interferes with the activity of simvastatin and niacin by reducing the share of circulating HDL ruining the cardioprotective effect of these drugs;
• Chemotherapy and radiotherapy: antioxidants cancel the action of some drugs with antitumor activity and hence also vitamin E.
• Anticoagulants and inhibitors of platelet aggregation: assuming vitamin E increases the risk of bleeding phenomena if one is undergoing therapy/treatment with anticoagulants such as warfarin.

Take a look at our tried and tested method: Anti-Diet