Health Benefits of Vitamin E

Vitamin E is your body's most abundant fat-soluble antioxidant, and the single most important antioxidant for heart attack prevention. The benefits of vitamin E have been the subject of research studies for more than 70 years. The breadth and scope of the benefits of vitamin E has made it one of the most significant nutritional discoveries in history.

What makes vitamin E so valuable in preventing heart disease and atherosclerosis is that it can maneuver into fatty parts of the cell membrane that are inaccessible to the other network antioxidants.

Vitamin E is an essential fat-soluble vitamin. It is not a single compound, but a family of molecules composed of tocopherols and tocotrienols (fat-soluble alcohols), all nearly identical in structure. The four distinct tocopherols are named alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-tocopherols.

Vitamin E helps prevent oxidative stress by working together with the other network antioxidants: vitamin C, glutathione and lipoic acid, as well as the mineral selenium.

Vitamin E
Strengthens Your Immune System

The primary job of your immune system is to protect you against disease. They call it a "system" because it is not associated with any one particular organ. Instead, it is a collection of cells that seek out and destroy bacteria, viruses, cancerous cells and foreign invaders that it identifies as harmful.

T-cells. There are several different types of immune cells. T-cells are the main cells of the immune system. T-cells circulate throughout the bloodstream and seek out and destroy harmful invaders. Other T-cells, called suppressor cells, help immune cells distinguish between the cells of the body and foreign proteins. A malfunction in suppressor cells can lead to autoimmune diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

B-cells. Another type of immune cell, B-cells, produce proteins called antibodies that attach onto a foreign substance when it has been introduced into the body.

As we age, there is a measurable drop in immune function. Although we may produce just as many T-cells and B-cells, they do not work as well as they did when you were younger. Vitamin E has been shown to produce a significant increase in T-cell and B-cell activity in studies done with older patients.

Other Specific Benefits of Vitamin E

Besides protecting your cardiovascular system, the benefits of vitamin E include keeping your skin youthful by protecting against ultraviolet radiation and ozone, the major causes of wrinkles. Vitamin E also promotes healthy hair and reduces acne conditions. It also has been shown to increase longevity and promotes quicker recovery from strenuous exercise.

The list of specific benefits of vitamin E is virtually endless. You will understand why this vitamin is held in such high regard after reading down the list of reported benefits below:

Brain Function
• maintains brain function and mental cognition in old age
• may help to prevent or slow down the progression of Alzheimer's
• prevention and treatment of migraines
• prevention and treatment of multiple sclerosis, strokes and Parkinson's

Cancer
• reduces the risk of prostate and
bladder cancer
• inhibits the growth of cancer cells

Circulatory System
• helps prevent varicose veins
• lowers blood pressure
• prevention and treatment of angina

• helps prevent anemia
• supports normal blood clotting
• protects against leg cramps

Immune System
• strengthens your immune system
• repairs damaged tissues and scars
• prevention and treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis

Vision Problems
• prevention and treatment of cataracts
and macular degeneration

More Benefits of Vitamin E
Vitamin E may be useful in the prevention
and treatment of the following:
• arthritis and other inflammatory diseases
• asthma
• diabetes
• epilepsy
• gout
• infertility

• vaginitis
• menopause
• oral cancers
• peptic ulcers
• premenstrual syndrome
• psoriasis

Back to Antioxidants Home Page from Benefits of Vitamin E

You Can Have a Website Just Like this One!