VIT

Content
Introduction

E
Physicochemical properties

Functions

Dietary Sources

Metabolism

Deficiency

Presentation title 2
 The term ‘vitamin E’ was first introduced by Evans and Bishop (1922) .
Vitamin E is a physiologically essential micronutrient and has been applied in
various fields including medicine, pharmaceutics, cosmetics, and foods. It is a fat
soluble vitamin.
Vitamin E is the name given to a group of toco pherols and tocotrienols. Till now 8
tocopherols have been identified alpha ,beta, gamma,delta etc, Among this alpha
tocopherol is active.
Vitamin E is naturally occurring anti-oxidant. Tocopherols are derivatives of 6-
hydroxy chromane .The anti –oxidant property is due to chromane ring.
It is also known as “anti sterility/anti infertility vitamin” because it helps in normal
reproduction in many animals and humans.

Presentation title 3
 Physicochemical properties

• Colour : pale yellow

• State : oil
• Solubility : soluble in fats and organic solvents. hence it
is stored in the adipose tissue of the body
• Stability : It is thermostable and chemostable
compound
• Long exposure to UV- Radiation and oxidising agents
can destroy vitamin E 
 Functions of vitamin E

Vitamin E is essential for membrane structure and integrity of the cell, hence it is membrane antioxidant.

It prevents the peroxidation of PUFA.

It protects the RBC from hemolysis by oxidizing agents (H2O2).

It is associated with reproductive function and prevents sterility.
it preserves and maintains germinal epithelium of gonads for proper reproductive function.
It prevents the oxidation of Vitamin A and carotenes .

It is required for proper storage of creatine in skeletal muscle .

It is required for absorption of amino acids from intestine .

It is involved in synthesis of nucleic acids .

It works in association with vitamin A,C and beta-carotene, to delay the onset of cataract.
Vitamin E is recommended for the prevention of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
it has an antioxidant property
 Metabolism

• ABSORPTION  Vitamin E is absorbed along with fat in the

upper small intestine  Mechanism: Vitamin E combines with
Bile salts (micelles) to form mixed micelle and taken up by
the mucosal cell  In the mucosal cell, it is incorporated into
chylomicrons
• Transport Dietary vitamin E is incorporated to chylomicrons
 In the circulation, chylomicrons transport vitamin E to the
peripheral tissue or to the liver  Hepatic vitamin E is
incorporated to VLDL  In the circulation, VLDL is converted
LDL  Vitamin E is transported with LDL to reach the
peripheral tissues including adipose tissue
• Storage: Mainly stored in liver and adipose tissue
6
 Sources of Vitamin E

It is found in Commercially available

• Cotton seed oil dry soya bean Evion(merck) -200mg,400mg,600mg soft
• Corn oil Cabbage gelatin capsules.
• Sunflower oil lettuce .
E-cap ------- 200mg,400mg capsules
• Wheat germ oil apple seeds .Edge --------400 IU of gelatin capsules.
• Palm oil eggs Tocofer----- 200mg,400mg capsules.
• Peanut oil meat
Monovitin--- 100 IU,200 IU,400 IU
• Many types of vegetable oil milk
capsules.
butter
Fish liver oil does not contain vit.E

7
Requirement/Recommended Daily Allowance(RDA)

15 mg of vit.E = 33 IU(international unit)

Children:- 4.5-6.5 mg/day
Adults :-
Males :-10 mg/day
Females:- In normal :-8 mg/day
During pregnancy:- 10 mg/day
During lactation :- 12 mg/day
People over 60 years :- 12 mg/day

8
 Deficiency

• In humans, deficiency of vitamin E is seen in

• Premature infants: -Transfer of vitamin E from maternal blood occurs during last few weeks of
pregnancy.
• Impaired absorption: Seen in conditions such as 1. abetalipoproteinemia (fat malabsorption)
2.Obstructive jaundice 3. Intestinal diseases such as celiac spure
• Genetic vitamin E deficiency: It is caused by lack of a protein (α-tocopherol transfer protein (α-TTP) )that
normally transports α-tocopherol from hepatocytes to VLDL.
Muscle weakness and proteinuria is seen
Chronic deficiency may also lead to total blindness, heamolytic anemia ,ataxia, impaired thinking
ability, heart disease or permanent damage of nerves.
 Hypervitaminosis

• Vitamin e is the least toxic fat soluble vitamin.

• Consuming higher dose of this E vitamin through supplements may
lead to accumulation to a toxic level leading to excessive bleeding,
nausea, gonadal dysfunction, blurred vision, fatigue, bruising, stomach
cramps etc.
• At the intake of vit.E above 1000 IU/day it may cause tendency to
heamorrhage because it act as mild anti-coagulant.
Presentation title 10
Thank you