Information on Vitamin E

WHAT IS VITAMIN E?

The first thing I want to point out is that a lot of what you read will refer to just “Vitamin E” and not any specific isomer of the Vitamin E family.  For instance, the phrase “Vitamin E lowers Cholesterol” doesn’t have enough information in it to properly educate you for your buying decisions.  It is hard to tell what is being referenced specifically or as a general rule, and it seems that fewer sources actually break it down for you.  You have to look in the medical journals and you have to do at least a little bit of digging elsewhere to find much information on the specifics.  When I found specific information, I have made sure to specify what isomers were being referenced.

“The name Tocopherol (Vitamin E) was derived from the Greek words of tokos, meaning “offspring” and pherein, meaning “to bear,” proving its necessity in the reproduction process. It was formerly known as the “anti-sterility” vitamin, a deficiency of which has been linked to miscarriages.” – InnVista.com

The discovery of Vitamin E happened in 1922 by Dr. Herbert M. Evans and his assistant Katherine S. Bishop.  They were feeding rats a special diet, which was causing the rats in the womb to die.  When the rats were supplemented with lettuce, and then later with wheat germ, the pups in the womb were healthy and were delivered as healthy pups.  Dr. Evans found that a lipid extract from the lettuce would cause the same positive effects, so this indicated that something that was fat soluble was the reason.  Not knowing exactly what it was, he deemed it “Factor X”.  He eventually isolated the compound and labeled it Vitamin E.  Later in 1936 they isolated the form Alpha Tocopherol, and then in 1937 they isolated Beta and Gamma Tocopherol.

The story of Vitamin E since that time is just one more story that doesn’t surprise me one bit.  It is just like all of the other vitamin stories, where scientists have done real studies and gotten extremely positive results only to be ridiculed and shut out because it didn’t fit the main agenda.  The main agenda of course is for the pharmaceutical companies to sell you synthetic drugs that will not actually CURE your illness.  Vitamin E is vastly safer than drugs, and doses of up to 56,000 IU fail to harm adult humans, yet the RDI is set at measly 30IU?  This is a crime, a crime to the health of the human population.

Vitamin E used to come from a common source in the diet before the 1900’s, and that source was bread and any products made from grains.  This was until the invention of the rolling mill in the late 1800’s, which stripped the wheat germ from the wheat bran leaving only the white flour portion left behind.  Food producers today do not usually add back Vitamin E to foods once they are processed, but some do.  Why is this might you ask?  I have read conflicting stories about this, one being that Vitamin E can cause a product to go bad more quickly that if it did not contain Vitamin E, and can shorten the shelf life of a product.  I have also read that Vitamin E makes the product last longer, and stay fresh for longer.  So which is it?  After researching Vitamin E I have concluded that it is the latter of the two.  It is used to make foods stay fresh for longer, and you may come to the same conclusion after reading this article.

There are 12 or more different active molecular structures for Vitamin E that all consist of a Chromanol “head” and a side-chain “tail.”  Only 8 of these have been studied with any great detail.  Of these 8 there are two sub-complexes of Vitamin E, Tocopherols and Tocotrienols, of which there are four different isomers for each, making a total of 8 different studied active Vitamin E components.  Tocopherols have Phytyl side chains attached to their Chromanol heads, whereas the tails of the Tocotrienols are unsaturated and form an Isoprenoid chain through double bonds.

The head of the molecule can have additional chemical groups called “methyl groups” attached to it.  These locations (when looking at the images above) are at the top position (R1), the bottom position (R3), and the bottom left position (R2).  Alpha isomers have all 3 methyl groups filled, Beta and Gamma have two groups filled, and Delta has 1 group filled.

R-Groups for Vitamin E

FORM	R1	R2	R3
Alpha	CH3	CH3	CH3
Beta	CH3	H	CH3
Gamma	H	CH3	CH3
Delta	H	H	CH3

The body seems to be able to regulate each isomer at different levels in specific tissues.  Studies show that the entire complex of Tocotrienols and Tocopherols acts in a synergistic effect, all complementing the body together to have a total impact.  This is the case with any Vitamin complex, where there are multiple forms of a particular Vitamin.  Older studies have indicated that Tocopherols are more beneficial than Tocotrienols, but this isn’t to say that the latter isn’t important.  There are however more recent studies showing that the Tocotrienols are more potent than the Tocopherols.  The problem is that they do different things in the body, so to say that one is more powerful than the other is hard state unless talking about a specific action.

The four Tocopherols consist of Alpha-, Beta-, Delta- and Gamma-Tocopherol.  The four Tocotrienols consist of Alpha-, Beta-, Delta- and Gamma-Tocotrienol.  Each isomer of both families share the same head, while the tail is varied slightly.  The different “tails” described above differentiate each component as Alpha, Beta, Delta, or Gamma.  Some researchers think that Alpha-Tocopherol is the only beneficial active form of Vitamin E, and that is because it was the first that was discovered and the one that has had the most research.  This is also because it is found in the blood in the highest amounts above all other 7 isomers, due to a hepatic Tocopherol-transfer protein in the liver that specifically targets Alpha-Tocopherol.  Studies have shown that all 8 are important for the greatest health benefits, although Alpha Tocopherol has been studied the most.  Compared to it, little has been known about the other isomers in the vitamin E family until more recently.

“Its absence from the diet makes for irreparable sterility occasioned by a complete degeneration of the germinal cells of the male generative glands. The expectant mother requires vitamin E to insure the carriage of her charge to a complete and natural term. If her diet is deficient in vitamin E . . . the woman is very apt to abort. . . It is more difficult to insure a liberal vitamin E supply in the daily average diet than to insure an adequate supply of any other known vitamin.” – Doctor Yourself

By the early 1970’s, scientists known as “the Shutes” had done extensive testing with up to 3200mg/day and found that Vitamin E has serious impacts on cardiovascular health.  They found that using natural forms (not synthetic) of Vitamin E derived and using the right amounts of Vitamin E that it can be used to prevent and/or cure most cardiovascular illnesses.  Someone I call a “real scientist” named Linus Pauling once wrote: “The failure of the medical establishment during the last forty years to recognize the value of Vitamin E in controlling heart disease is responsible for a tremendous amount of unnecessary suffering and for many early deaths. The interesting story of the efforts to suppress the Shute discoveries about Vitamin E illustrates the shocking bias of organized medicine against nutritional measures for achieving improved health.”  I love that statement, because it rings true with so many more things other than just Vitamin E.

It would seem that getting all 8 in the diet would be very important for health, and that is truth.  One catch to Vitamin E is that Tocopherols and Tocotrienols should not be taken at the same time, they should be taken up to 8 hours apart.  This is because they can cancel each other out, and affect each other’s absorptions.

WHAT DOES VITAMIN E DO IN THE BODY?

The Vitamin E complex are naturally occurring lubricants for the body, is the body’s main fat-soluble antioxidant, are one of the only safe anti-clotting agents on the planet, and have strong anti-inflammatory effects.  All 8 isomers have some sort of antioxidant value because of the ability to donate a hydrogen atom form the “head” of the entire molecule.  Along with Vitamin A, Selenium, Vitamin C, and CoQ10; Vitamin E prevents the oxidation of fats in the body.  Free radical exposure starts in the blood, and can destroy fats (lipids) through a process called oxidation.  These damaged fats then get used and stored in the body, creating further problems down the road.  Ample amounts of the Vitamin E complex alone can stop the chain of lipid destruction within the blood before this can even happen.  This makes Vitamin E a very effective agent against the effects of aging on the body, where free radicals play the primary role.

One thing that Tocopherols are very good for is converting Nitrite and Nitrate back into Nitric Acid.  Nitric Acid allows cells to properly communicate, and relaxes/dilates the arteries.  One problem with Nitric Acid is that it is very unstable, and breaks down into Nitrites and Nitrates extremely easily. These can have harmful effects by producing nitrogen radicals within the body.  The same things applies to nitrogen radicals as with free radicals… you don’t want them!

“The need for Vitamin E during menopause can increase by ten to fifty times the normal amount required in the premenopausal years. Hot flashes have reportedly diminished in some people when supplements of 1200 mg. when taken along with 1000 mg. of hesperidin (a bioflavonoid).” – InnVista.com

GENERAL STATEMENTS FOR WHAT “VITAMIN E” CAN DO:

• Prevents loss of spermatogenesis in males and the failure to retain zygotes in female rats
• Known to readily reduce alkyl peroxy radicals of unsaturated lipids, thereby generating hydroperoxides
• It is the only substance preventing the clotting of blood which is not dangerous
• Blocks prostaglandins and protects cell membranes from pathogens
• Used to prevent cell membrane damage
• Reduces the oxygen requirement of various tissues within the body
• Improves collateral circulation, acts as a vasodilator and preserves capillary walls
• Decreases insulin requirements in ¼ of diabetics
• Large intakes of Vitamin E (1200 mg. or more) can interfere with the metabolism of Vitamin K and, to a certain extent, that of Vitamin A absorption
• Is one of the regulators of fat and protein metabolism
• Used to arrest and reverse multiple sclerosis along with other nutrients
• Prevents thick scar formation when used externally
• Preventive of fibroids and endometriosis
• High doses of Vitamin E can antagonize the actions of Vitamin K in animals
• Vitamin E is particularly protective against exercise induced free radicals
• Shown to cure hemorrhages in skin and mucous membranes
• Effective in cases of claudication, acute nephritis, thrombosis, cirrhosis and phlebitis
• Successfully used as therapy for gangrene, inflammation of blood vessels (Buerger’s disease), retinitis and choroiditis
• Speed the healing of burns
• Used as a diuretic and an anticoagulant
• Used to relieve leg cramps
• Helps lupus erythematosus and shortness of breath
• Proven to successfully treat fibrocystic diseases of the breast, improving the condition by 70%
• Demonstrated a strengthening effect on the heart.  Researchers at the University of Cambridge in England took 2000 people and conducted a study showing the correlation of Heart Disease Rates and Vitamin E.  They found that consuming Vitamin E supplements reduced the disease by 75%
• Children suffering from epileptic seizures have displayed low levels of Vitamin E, which has proven to help control seizures
• Vitamin E enrichment of endothelial cells down- regulates the expression of intercellular cell adhesion protein and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, thereby reducing the oxidized LDL-induced adhesion of white cells to the endothelium
• Vitamin E up-regulates the activities of cytosolic phospholipase A2 and cyclooxygenase. The enhanced activity of these two rate-limiting enzymes in the arachidonic acid cascade provides a mechanism for the observation that vitamin E dose dependently enhances release of prostacyclin, a potent vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet aggregation
• Increases low platelet counts
• Vitamin E reduces scarring when frequently applied topically to burns or sites of lacerations or surgical incisions along with a daily oral dose of 800 IU
• Vitamin E has an oxygen-sparing effect on the heart, enabling the heart can do more work on less oxygen
• Vitamin E moderately prolongs prothrombin clotting time, and has a limited Coumadin/warfarin effect
• 800 IU or more of Vitamin E dilates and promotes collateral circulation and benefits diabetes patients or anyone threatened with gangrene
• Vitamin E strengthens and regulates heartbeat like digitalis and its derivatives at a dose adjusted between 800 to 3000 IU daily
• Vitamin E helps gradually break down clots at a maintained dose of between 800 IU and 3,000 IU
• Recent studies are showing that vitamin E intake significantly reduce risk of type 2 diabetes

SPECIFICS FOR TOCOPHEROLS

The more potent forms of Tocopherols are Alpha and Gamma Tocopherol.  When the entire Tocopherol complex is taken together, its effectiveness is greater in protecting against lipid damage and inhibiting platelet aggregation than when Alpha Tocopherol was ingested alone.  Unlike Tocotrienols, Tocopherols are inactive in inhibiting cholesterol synthesis.

Alpha Tocopherol

• The liver is central to the regulation of plasma vitamin E concentrations because it is the organ in which the Alpha-Tocopherol transfer protein preferentially incorporates Alpha-Tocopherol into lipoproteins that are circulated in blood.
• Have a defect in the Alpha-Tocopherol transfer protein means that you will be severely deficient in Vitamin E
• Tocopherol has the potential to act as a pro-oxidant rather than an anti-oxidant when co-antioxidants such as Vitamin C, Vitamin K or CoQ10 are not available to neutralize the Tocopherol radical and when oxidative stress is mild
• Reduces nitrogen dioxide back to Nitric Acid or reacts with it to form a harmless compound
• Plays a role in the modulation of specific gene expressions and the regulation of five different groups of genes including proteins involved in cell-signaling
• Inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation
• Decreases protein kinase C activity
• Increases phosphoprotein phosphatase 2A activity
• Controls expression of the a-tropomyosin gene
• Modulates the in vitro expression of some significant proteins/enzymes in various cell types involved in atherogenesis
• Has been shown to attenuate or interfere with the cholesterol-lowering action of Tocotrienols
• Has been shown to prevent absorption of both Tocopherols and Tocotrienols
• Supplementation of just Alpha-Tocopherol reduces levels of both Gamma and Delta Tocopherols

Beta Tocopherol

• Beta Tocopherol abrogates the Alpha-Tocopherol effect

Delta Tocopherol

• Known as a desmethyl Tocopherol
• A metabolite of Delta-Tocopherol has a regulatory effect on sodium in the blood, possibly contributing to a blood pressure lowering effect.
• In vitro studies support Gamma-Tocopherol as being more effective than Alpha-Tocopherol in quenching mutagenic peroxynitrite and blocking COX-2 inflammation.

Gamma Tocopherol

• Known as a desmethyl Tocopherol
• Can enter the brain freely via the blood stream with no discrimination
• Better than Alpha for reducing nitrogen dioxide back to Nitric Acid or reacting with it to form a harmless compound
• Works closely with Alpha-Tocopherol in the body
• Shown to be a powerful anti-inflammatory
• Reduces TNF-Alpha, nitrate/nitrite, and lactate dehydrogenase activity, which are all bio-markers for disease
• Attenuates inflammation-mediated damage
• Inhibits prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4
• Induces cell death in human prostate cancer cells by interrupting sphingolipid synthesis
• A powerful nucleophile able to trap electrophilic mutagens in lipophilic compartments
• Generates a metabolite that facilitates natriuresis
• Complements glutathione, which similarly scavenges electrophilic mutagens in the aqueous phase of the cell
• Supplementation of Gamma-Tocopherol increased both Gamma and Alpha Tocopherol in animals
• Epidemiological studies show that Gamma-Tocopherol reduces both prostate cancer and coronary heart disease
• In vitro studies support Gamma-Tocopherol as being more effective than Alpha-Tocopherol in quenching mutagenic peroxynitrite, and blocking COX-2 inflammation

SPECIFICS FOR TOCOTRIENOLS

• The isomers of Tocotrienols differ depending on the substitution and location of methyl groups at the head region of the molecule. Desmethyl Tocotrienols (Tocotrienols with less methyl groups) are more active, especially in the absence of a methyl group at C5 position on the chromanol ring system
• Desmethyl Tocotrienols have benefits of sodium excretion, reduction of body fluid retention and hypertension, inhibition of prostate cancer, and suppression of TNF-Alpha-induced activation of microglial cells
• Desmethyl Tocotrienols have only one or no methyl group on the 6-hydroxychromane nucleus. It was shown that they have much greater antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic and antitumor properties than the other components of vitamin E
• The unsaturated side chain facilitate better penetration into saturated fatty layers of the brain and liver
• The more potent forms of Tocotrienols are Delta and Gamma Tocotrienol.
• Are many times more potent as antioxidants than are Tocopherols, but they are poorly assimilated by digestion, are poorly distributed to tissues in blood and are rapidly metabolized and eliminated from the body
• Desmethyl Tocotrienols, are more bio-available than non-desmethyl Tocotrienols
• Prevents cell adhesion and suppresses tumor growth.
• One of the first steps of atherogenesis is fatty streak formation in arteries, which begins with the adherence of circulating monocytes to the endothelium. Tocotrienols have been shown to reduce cellular adhesion molecule expression and monocytic cell adherence.  It has been suggested that this phenomenon occurs via inhibition of vascular cell adhesion molecule, VCAM-1 expression by Delta-Tocotrienol.
• Have anti-carcinogenic and neuroprotective properties
• Tocotrienols down regulate 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol synthesis.
• For Tocotrienols, the potency of cholesterol inhibition by these isomers is as follows: Delta>Gamma >Alpha>Beta
• Tocotrienols, especially Gamma- and Delta-Tocotrienols, increase vascular and cardiometabolic integrity and lead to improved management of metabolic syndrome
• Mice fed an atherogenic diet and were given desmethyl Tocotrienols had 60% lower plasma cholesterol than the control group on the same diet without supplementation, and the size of atherosclerotic lesions was reduced 10-fold
• Desmethyl Tocotrienols have much greater in vitro antioxidant activities and greater suppression of B16 melanoma cell proliferation than Alpha-Tocopherol and known Tocotrienols
• Fully methylated Tocotrienols and Tocopherols do not have the cardiovascular benefits characteristic of desmethyl Tocotrienols
• Symptoms caused by Alpha-Tocopherol deficiency can be alleviated by Tocotrienols.
• The cancer lowering ability of Tocotrienols increases in this order: Alpha<Gamma<Delta
• Tocotrienols inhibit angiogenesis (important in tumor growth, diabetic retinopathy, rheumatic arthritis, wet-type macular degeneration) via VEGF inhibition.

Alpha Tocotrienol

• The 3^rd most potent isomer of the four discussed Tocotrienol compounds.
• Is a 40 to 60 times more potent antioxidant for protecting rat liver lipids than Alpha Tocopherol

Beta Tocotrienol

• The 4^th most potent isomer of the four discussed Tocotrienol compounds.

Delta Tocotrienol

• Known as a desmethyl Tocotrienol
• The most potent isomer of the four discussed Tocotrienol compounds.
• Effective in preventing glutamate-induced neuronal cell deaths (MSG Exposure)
• Corrects for genetic defects in nerve protein synthesis in children with Familial Dysautonomia
• Delta-Tocotrienol was shown to be significantly more potent in the inhibition of platelet aggregation than the other Tocotrienol isomers, giving an overall inhibition of 71%, as compared to 5-37% with other Tocotrienols
• A potent inhibitor of endogenous cholesterol synthesis
• Improves vascular functions, reducing adhesion molecules

Gamma Tocotrienol

• Known as a desmethyl Tocotrienol
• Corrects for genetic defects in nerve protein synthesis in children with Familial Dysautonomia
• The 2^nd most potent isomer of the four discussed Tocotrienol compounds.
• Effective in preventing glutamate-induced neuronal cell deaths (MSG Exposure)
• A potent inhibitor of endogenous cholesterol synthesis

“Vitamin E is so safe that premature babies are specifically given it to prevent oxygen damage to their retinas. These infants require about 200 International Units a day to be effective. That is the adult dose equivalent of about 7,000 I.U. of Vitamin E daily! Little clinical need has ever existed in adults for even half of that amount. However, the US RDA of vitamin E is only 10 – 15 I.U., and that is not enough to stop macular degeneration in a hamster. Between 600 and 1,200 I.U. daily is a common therapeutic level for a person” – DoctorYourself

“When a phospholipid tail becomes peroxidized by a free radical, the tail becomes more polar and migrates to the surfaces where it can meet the tocopherol chroman ring to be neutralized, while forming a tocopheroxyl radical. The tocopheroxyl radical can be reduced (restored) to tocopherol directly by Ubiquinol or Vitamin C — and then by glutathione or lipoic acid (via Vitamin C), which are in turn reduced by NADH or NADPH.” – Benbest.com

WHAT AFFECTS VITAMIN E ABSORPTION?

Inhibitors and destructors of Vitamin E include things like ferrous sulfate (a form of Iron), heat, oxygen, freezing temperatures, food processing, chlorine, mineral oil, laxatives, estrogen, thyroid hormones and contraceptive pills

Helpers of Vitamin E include things like Vitamins A, B Complex, C, F, Inositol, fats in the diet, manganese, selenium, phosphorus and CoQ10

Vitamin E can be destroyed by the inorganic iron form of ferrous sulphate. It is suggested that this form of Iron should be taken at least eight hours away from a Vitamin E supplement.  The inorganic forms of ferrous gluconate, peptonate, citrate, or fumerate do not destroy Vitamin E.

I found that another very important factor affecting the bodies need for Vitamin E intake is the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet. As the consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids increase, so does the requirement for Vitamin E.  This may indicate that polyunsaturated fatty acids are toxic in some way to the body, and that would be completely correct based on what I currently know about polyunsaturated fats.  One thing that I know is that they go rancid very easily because of their molecular structure.  Even by the time you get them from the shelf they are sometimes rancid, simply because of the way they are processed.  These rancid molecules then get used in the cell membranes, and get stored in the body which produce free radicals.  If you cook with polyunsaturated fats then you are asking for trouble, because you create a literal free radical soup when you heat polyunsaturated oils.  This is because the molecular double bonds “kinks” in the molecules break when heated.  You only want to cook with heavily saturated oils like coconut oil, beef tallow, lard, or butter because the saturated fat molecule is stable and does not tend to break down.

Vitamin E deficiency can be caused by any disorder that decreases the area of intestinal cells, such as celiac disease or removal of parts of the intestines.  People with cholestatic liver disease become vitamin E deficient as a result of fat malabsorption.  Cystic fibrosis, cardiomyopathy, chronic cholestatic liver disease, aBetalipoprotienemia, and chronic diarrhea can cause Vitamin E deficiency.  More severe Vitamin E deficiency can be caused when bile flow is impaired or when intestine lipoprotein synthesis is defective.  One major problem with Vitamin E deficiency is that it can go undetected for a long time, and once the damage has been done to the body it is mostly irreversible.

It generally takes several years in adults before plasma Vitamin E decreases to a dangerously deficient range. Children who have malabsorption problems from birth take a relatively short period of time to become deficient.  If it is left untreated then severe problems can develop.  Deficiency primarily affects the posterior columns of the spinal cord, the third and fourth cranial nerve nuclei, large caliber myelinated axons of peripheral nerves, the brain stem, and eventually muscles and the retina.

Symptoms of Vitamin E deficiency include loss of deep tendon reflexes, alterations in balance and coordination, impaired movement of the eyes (ophthalmoplegia), muscle weakness, and visual disturbances. If Vitamin E deficiency is corrected during the first few years of life and then maintained all symptoms can be reversed or prevented. If not dealt with until symptoms are well advanced, limited improvement can be expected.

WHAT FORMS OF VITAMIN E ARE THERE?

As stated in the beginning of this article, Vitamin E is more of a general term describing 2 families called Tocopherols and Tocotrienols.  Both families consist of Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma isomers.  For supplementation, natural forms of Vitamin E are usually extracted from vegetable oils and nuts or beans, while synthetic versions of Vitamin E are made with petrochemicals and things like coal tar.

The bioavailability of the natural forms of Vitamin E are nearly twice that of the man made synthetic versions.  Not only this but the natural forms stay in the bodily tissues much longer than synthetic versions.  The way to tell the difference between synthetic and natural versions is to look at the ingredient name.  In this case if we take Alpha-Tocopherol as an example, the natural form would be (d Alpha-Tocopherol) while the synthetic form can be (dl Alpha-Tocopheryl) or (dl Alpha-Tocopherol).  Do you see the 2 differences?

The structure of natural vs. synthetic Vitamin E differs between the two.  Natural Vitamin E is made of a single stereoisomer while synthetic is made up of 8 stereoisomer compounds, only 1 of which is the same as natural vitamin E Alpha-Tocopherol.  This means that the synthetic version is not molecularly the same as the natural form.  Once again, not only are the natural forms more effective, they also stay in your body longer.  Your body knows the difference, and it will always know the difference.  This applies to any natural vs. synthetic version of any compound found in nature.

Unlike other compounds, the natural form of Vitamin E is internationally recognized to be more biologically active than the synthetic form, so you don’t need me telling you to take the natural form over the synthetic form!

“The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC, which establishes naming conventions for chemicals) advocates an R & S system of stereoisomer designation, rather than the “d-” & “l-” prefixes (which indicate optical activity.. Therefore, the common natural form of Alpha tocopherol has the IUPAC name 2R,4′R,8′R-Alpha-tocopherol (RRR-Alpha-tocopherol, for short) — “d-Alpha-tocopherol” is now obsolete.” – Benbest.com

WHAT ARE NATURAL SOURCES THAT CONTAIN VITAMIN E?

It is hard to find out what foods have exactly which forms within it.  I have tried to separate what I can find below.  Something like rice contains about 50% Tocotrienols and 50% Tocopherols, whereas palm contains approximately 75% Tocotrienols and 25% Tocopherols.

TOCOPHEROLS

Dicotyledonous plants (soy, peanut) typically contain Tocopherols, predominantly as Gamma-Tocopherol, and secondarily as Delta-Tocopherol and Alpha-Tocopherol.  Alpha-Tocopherol is found in nuts like almonds, peanuts and hazelnuts; seeds like sunflower and safflower; green leafy vegetables like spinach; fruits like mango, tomato and kiwi; and oils like corn and soy oil.  Sunflower, peanut, walnut, sesame and olive oils contain virtually no Tocotrienols.  This may also be true with nuts and seeds in general.

TOCOTRIENOLS

Monocotyledoneous plants (palm, rice) typically contain Tocotrienols, predominantly as Gamma-Tocotrienol, and secondarily as Delta-Tocotrienol and Alpha-Tocotrienol.  Tocotrienols are most abundant in palm, rice, and annatto.  Annatto ranks highest in Tocotrienol content, since its Tocotrienol content is 99%, and it is virtually Tocopherol-free.  Annatto is high in Delta Tocotrienol with moderate amounts of Gamma Tocotrienol.  Nuts, seeds, rice bran oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, barley, wheat, oats, corn, carrots, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, avocados, apricots, blueberries, black currants, grapes, olives, pasture fed dairy products including milk, yogurt, kefir, cheese, and butter all contain various amounts of Tocotrienols. In oat and barley, Alpha Tocotrienol predominates. In hulled and de-hulled wheat, Beta Tocotrienol is the predominate isomer

Vitamin E in general is present in many foods but only in very small quantities, so it is hard to obtain adequate vitamin E levels from even the best diet alone.  Supplementation is defiantly needed with this Vitamin if you are looking to benefit from it.

“Vitamin E derived from natural sources is obtained by molecular distillation and, in most cases, subsequent methylation and esterification of edible vegetable oil products. Synthetic vitamin E is produced from fossil plant material (coal tar) by condensation of trimethylhydroquinone with isophytol.” Doctor Yourself

WHAT SUPPLEMENT DO I RECOMMEND FOR VITAMIN E?

“Commercialization of natural soy-derived Tocopherols occurred in the 1950s. The eminence of Alpha-Tocopherol prompted many companies to chemically convert soy and corn Tocopherols (with crop abundance typically less than 20% Alpha-Tocopherol) to 100% Alpha-Tocopherol. The “natural” Alpha-Tocopherol on the market is, in fact, synthetic. These soy- and corn-based Tocopherols are synthesized to (RRR- or d-) Alpha-Tocopherol via the addition of one methyl group to Gamma-Tocopherol and two methyl groups to Delta-Tocopherol. This C5 methyl addition is the primary chemical process.” Ana-Jana.org

On my quest to find a Vitamin E complex that did not contain soy oil, I found practically the best supplement for the Vitamin E Tocopherol family, and it is made by a company called A.C. Grace.  A.C. Grace has been doing Vitamin E research since 1962, and they seem to really know what is going on with it.  They have a Tocopherol product called UNIQUE-E which has 400 IU (268mg) of Alpha-Tocopherol, 300mg of Gamma-Tocopherol and then 132mg of a mixture of Delta and Beta-Tocopherol.  Other then this, the product contains Gelatin, Glycerin and water.  This is all that is in this product and if you want just the Vitamin E you can bite the capsule to get the gel out, and then spit it out when you are done.  I do this and it does not taste like anything, almost like thick water.  My old vitamin E complex mix had a funny taste to it which was probably the vegetable oil (soy), and this new one does not.  I also like the fact that the product contains more Gamma Tocopherol than Alpha Tocopherol, and that is something that research is showing will be more beneficial.  They seem to have made a perfect product here, devoid of soy, and at a reasonable price.

Before this product I was using Country Life Vitamin E complex.  My only concern was that it contained Soybean oil.  Soy contains a lot of things (estrogen like compounds, mineral blockers, enzyme inhibitors, etc).  Knowing this, I do not want it in my food and it is already hard enough to accomplish this these days without taking supplements that have it as well.

When looking at Vitamin E supplements, you may get confused at the Units of Measure that are used.  Depending on what they use, the conversion factor for Vitamin E is as follows.  1 mg of Alpha-Tocopherol is equivalent to 1.49 IU of the natural form or 2.22 IU of the synthetic form.  1 IU of Alpha-Tocopherol is equivalent to 0.67 mg of the natural form or 0.45 mg of the synthetic form.

A.C. Grace also has a Tocotrienol mix, and I will be trying it soon.  It is the next thing on my list of supplements to take once in a while.  I currently take the Tocopherol mix every other day, so that I can extend the amount that I have and save some money while taking it often enough to do some good.

HOW MUCH VITAMIN E DO YOU NEED?

And vitamin E is safe, remarkably non-toxic. In fact, “toxicity symptoms have not been reported even at intakes of 800 IU per kilogram of body weight daily for 5 months” according to the Food and Nutrition Board. This demonstrated safe level would work out to be around 56,000 IU daily for an average adult, some 5000 times the RDA!” – DoctorYourself

The evidence supporting Tocopherols efficiency in preventing and reversing just heart disease, given you use the proper form and amounts,  is overwhelming yet the medical profession will not acknowledge it.  The US Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for Vitamin E is less than 30IU a day.  Sadly most people do not even get even 30 IU of vitamin E a day.  It is widely accepted through research that at least 100 IU of vitamin E daily is required to help prevent a great deal of cardiovascular disease, and that might not even be enough.  Upwards of 400 IU or more may be required for optimal health.  It is extremely hard to get even 100IU from the diet without supplementation.  The average American used to get roughly 100IU daily through simply consuming grain products.  As stated above this was before the invention of the rolling mill in the late 1800’s, which stripped the wheat germ from the wheat bran leaving only the white flour portion.  The wheat germ contains most of the nutrients from the seed, and this was one of the starting factors in today’s lack of Vitamin E nutrition and nutrition in general, which is not eating “complete” whole foods.

Studies have shown that supplementation of all 8 isomers will have the greatest effects for your body, because there is a synergistic effect when you combine the entire package.  Studies also show that Tocopherols should be taken hours apart from taking Tocotrienols.  It is found that Tocopherols in general hinder the assimilation of Tocotrienols in the human body.  Studies show that Alpha Tocopherol has the most impact on this.  This is because of how the body works, which prefers the uptake of Tocopherol via the Tocopherol-transfer protein, which discriminates between Tocopherols and Tocotrienols.

Heart disease rates have increased ever since the rolling mill was invented, and it is now in the number 1 disease in America that people die from each year.  I can say that we are not taking the nessecary actions with this disease, and we are pointing the finger in the wrong direction.  When you see for example that studies have shown that 1200 to 2000 IU of Vitamin E daily relieves something like angina very well, is it possible that all you have to do is take Vitamin E every day in order to seriously promote cardiovascular health?  It definitely could be that simple.  Scientists are now reporting a 35 to 50 percent reduction in heart disease when using Vitamin E. Studies show that without adequate amounts of Vitamin E the risk of heart disease, cancer, and many other degenerative diseases increases drastically.

Research shows that when taking Vitamin E for the first time you should start slowly if certain medical conditions exist.  I personally started taking a somewhat significant Tocopherol complex right from the beginning and had no issues.  Personally, it may be a good idea anyways as a rule of thumb to start slow with anything, because you never know what effects it may have both positive or negative.  Start slow with anything that you take.  A sudden large dose with Vitamin E can cause headaches, cause increases in blood pressure, and can aggravate a pre-existing rheumatic heart condition.  It is said that patients with the more serious conditions like congestive heart failure, rheumatic hearts, overactive thyroids, diabetes, high blood pressure or rheumatic fever need careful medical supervision if Vitamin E is to be taken.  It can elevate blood pressure in hypertensive people, but can lower blood pressure if dosages start small and are slowly increased.

In a number of clinical trials, doses of Tocotrienols as low as 42 mg/day have shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels by 5%-35%. Tocotrienols are safe and human studies show no adverse effects with consumption of 240 mg/day for 48 months.

Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin and it must be broken down during digestion via bile acids for it to be properly absorbed by the intestines.  Any factor that affects bile production or utilization will affect Vitamin E absorption.  One good way to promote bile production and utilization is to consume saturated fats with your foods.  Eating real butter on bread, putting butter in your potatoes or putting butter in your oatmeal for example are great ways to do this.

The New England Journal of Medicine had two articles in the May 20, 1993 issue showing that persons taking vitamin E supplements had an approximately 40% reduction in cardiovascular disease. Over 100,000 people took part in the studies. The more vitamin E they took, and the longer they took it, the less cardiovascular disease they experienced.  A 1996 double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 2,002 patients with clogged arteries demonstrated a 77% decreased risk of heart attack in those taking 400 to 800 IU of vitamin E.  Again, such effective quantities of vitamin E positively cannot be obtained from diet alone. 800 IU is 2,667% of the pathetic US RDI for vitamin E.

There was a crossover study on 36 patients who had Type I diabetes for less than 10 years. The dose used in the study was 1800 I.U. of Vitamin E per day. Before taking vitamin E, retinal blood flows in these subjects was significantly lower than in the non-diabetic population. Both retinal blood flow and creatinine clearance were significantly normalized when subjects received vitamin E. The patients with the worst reading improved the most.

Patients with familial isolated vitamin E deficiency, an inborn genetic defect in the gene for the a-Tocopherol transfer protein, have dramatically reduced Vitamin E levels. The deficiency symptoms associated with this syndrome can be ameliorated when these patients are given doses of vitamin E of up to 2000 mg per day.  Symptoms of vitamin E deficiency caused by chronic liver disease, fat malabsorption, or aBetalipoproteinemia are also ameliorated by high doses of vitamin E.

Severe vitamin E deficiency will lead to neuromuscular abnormalities characterized by spinocerebellar ataxia and myopathies. The peripheral neuropathy likely occurs due to free radical damage to the nerves and a dying back of the sensory neurons. Anemia can also occur, largely in premature infants, as a result of free radical damage. Diminished erythrocyte life span and increased susceptibility to peroxide-induced hemolysis do not only happen with severe deficiency but also in people with hypercholesterolemia.

Toxicity symptoms include: nausea, dizziness, decreased basal metabolic rate, muscle weakness, decreased thyroid hormone levels, increased blood triglycerides in women, fatigue, slightly increased blood fats, thinner blood, increased bleeding, decreased blood sugar, blurred vision, chapped lips, inflamed mouth, deterioration of digestion, headaches, decreased sexual organ function, a decreased ability for the body to metabolize Vitamin K, and a decreased ability to convert pro-vitamin A to vitamin A.  Please note that while describing any substance the word “toxicity” does not mean death or instantly mean something very bad.  As shown above, toxicity can mean many things.

Then again there are those medical doctors Wilfrid and Evan Shute of London, Ontario who successfully treated well over 30,000 cardiovascular disease patients with up to 3200 IU of vitamin E daily.  For that achievement, they were ostracized from their medical society.  This does not surprise me one bit, because what they used to truly treat and cure these people (Vitamin E) was not something that the medical monopoly could use to rake in the money with.  This is how the current system works, and if you don’t believe that it is so or believe that it is possible then you have a of awakening to do.

MISC FACTS ABOUT VITAMIN E

Having a Vitamin E deficiency is associated with almost a 4 fold increase in risk of Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus.  This indicates that free-radical damage might be a contributing factor in the development of NIDDM.

You can use Vitamin E topically by applying it to cuts or burns to improve heal times.  If you have a cut, you want to wait until the cut has become dry and has scabbed over.  Vitamin E is an anti-coagulant, so until the wound has scabbed it is not going to help matters.  Vitamin E helps keep the wound clean, and will help reduce scar formation if you put a little bit on a wound twice a day.

“For example, I give you Coumadin. You can often use vitamin E instead. Vitamin E potentiates the effects of Coumadin (Warfarin sodium), and at up to 3,200 IU or less daily, it can completely and safely substitute for the drug. That is just plain true. I’ve seen it again and again… Vitamin E is vastly safer than warfarin, the generic name of Coumadin. Warfarin is the active ingredient in rat poison.” – DoctorYourself.com

“There is also a special, unique form of vitamin E labeled TPGS. It is water soluble and forms its own tiny spheres so it can be more easily absorbed by people with diseases like AIDS and the above, who need it.” Nutrition4Health.org

“Researchers at the University of Texas Anderson Cancer Center have found that taking more vitamin E substantially reduces lung cancer. Their new study shows that people consuming the highest amounts of vitamin E had the greatest benefit. When they compared persons taking the most vitamin E with those taking the least, there was a 61% reduction in lung cancer risk.” – Orthomolecular.org

“Two landmark studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine [1][2] followed a total of 125,000 men and women health care professionals for a total of 839,000 person study-years. It was found that those who supplement with at least 100 IU of vitamin E daily reduced their risk of heart disease by 59 to 66%. Researchers at Cambridge University [3] in England reported that patients who had been diagnosed with coronary arteriosclerosis could lower their risk of having a heart attack by 77% by supplementing with 400 IU to 800 IU per day of the natural (d-Alpha tocopherol) form of vitamin E. ” – Doctor Yourself

“We recommend that Tocotrienol supplements be separated from Tocopherol supplements by a good length of time for best assimilation of the Tocotrienols – for instance, taking Tocopherols earlier in the day with a meal, and taking Tocotrienols in the evening with a meal. This allows not only for better Tocotrienol assimilation, but also effective utilization of any potential cholesterol-lowing properties of the Tocotrienols by synchronizing cholesterol synthesis in the liver with peak Tocotrienol levels” – A.C. Grace Company

There is even more information in these sources, so have fun!

SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE * SOURCE