Dr David McGrath
Spine Physician
MB BS (Hons) FAFOM, RACP, FAFMMMaster of Pain Medicine
Vitamin E (alpha-T)
Bottom Line: Crucial anti-oxidant. Supplementation not useful.
Physiology
1. Tocopherol (RRR-alpha-tocopherol or RRR-alpha-T , the most potent)
2. Tocotreniol
3. Similar uptake/efflux pathways as cholesterol
Actions
1. Anti-oxidant
2. Other actions (cell signalling and gene expression)
3. Interacts with other anti-oxidants
Specific Binding Proteins
1. Alpha-TTP (alpha tocopherol transfer protein)
2. SPF (supernatant protein factor)
Distribution
1. VLDL/LDL particles
2. Chylomicrons
3. HDL (liver and intestinal)
4. Take up by tissues through LPL (lipoprotein lipase)
5. Excess secreted in bile
6. Vitamin E food content correlates with polyunsaturated fat content.
Supplementation
1. Not shown to have the benefits of natural high levels
Item | Physiology | Disease | Reference |
1 | Low Vitamin E levels | Fatty Liver Steatohepatitis |
Cankurtaran 2006 |
2 | Normal levels Vit E | Protects LDL fat particles from Oxidation and subsequant uptake by scavenger receptors (monocytes) |
Hayes K 2001 |
3 | Deficiency | Ataxia | Stocker A 2004 |
4 | High Levels | Protection from chronic illnesses including cardiovascular diseases ("in spite of high cholesterol " ) |
Multiple Ref |
5 | Trans-Fatty Diet | Vitamin E deficiency develops (over utilisation of anti-oxidant ) Oxidation products (F2-isoprostanes) |
Multiple Ref |
6 | Deficiency | Inhibits exercise induced SOD activity (super oxide dehydrogenase-another anti-oxidant) |
Chang CK 2006 |
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