Vitamin E is a fat-soluble 6-hydroxychroman compounds that exists in eight different forms. Each form has its own biological activity, the measure of potency or functional use in the body.
It is a generic term that includes all entities that exhibit the biological activity of natural D- α-tocopherol, result the major lipid-soluble antioxidant found in cells.
Vitamin E is actually two sets of four compounds each, the tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma and delta) and the chemically related tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma and delta).
Α-tocopherol is the most plentiful and the most biological active of these compounds. The main function of vitamin E is to prevent the peroxidation of membrane phospholipids and to avoid cell membrane damage through its antioxidant action.
The alpha-tocopherol form is the one found in the largest quantities in human blood and tissue. Small amounts of the gamma form are also found. Vitamins E has some blood thinning effects and keeps platelets from clumping together to reduce the risk of devolvement of blood clots.
Vitamin E is important for cardiovascular health. This nutrient helps to prevent oxidation of bad cholesterol to help prevent it from sticking to blood vessel walls. Increased dilation of blood vessels also occurs.
What is Vitamin E?
