Dr David McGrath

Dr David McGrath

Dr David McGrath

Spine Physician

MB BS (Hons) FAFOM, RACP, FAFMM
Master 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
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
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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