Vitamin E Deficiency & Liquid Vitamins

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Alpha-tocopherol is the only form of vitamin e that is actively maintained in the human body and is therefore, the form of that is found in the largest quantities in the blood and tissue.

The main function of alpha-tocopherol in humans appears to be that of an antioxidant. Free radicals are formed primarily Free radicals are formed primarily in the body during normal metabolism and also upon exposure to environmental factors such as cigarette smoke or pollutants.

Fats which are an integral part of all of the cell membranes are vulnerable to destruction through oxidation of free radicals. The fat-soluble vitamin, alpha-tocopherol, is uniquely suited to intercepting free radicals and preventing a chain reaction of lipid destruction.

Because of liquid vitamins superior absorption ratio, they are especially beneficial in this process with this nutrient. Vitamin E deficiency has been observed in individuals with severe malnutrition, genetic defects affecting the alpha-tocopherol transfer protein, and fat malabsorption syndromes.

As an example, children with cystic fibrosis or cholestatic liver disease, who have an impaired capacity to absorb dietary fat and therefore fat-soluble vitamins, may develop symptomatic vitamin E deficiency.

Severe deficiency results mainly in neurological symptoms including impaired balance and coordination (ataxia), injury to the sensory nerves (peripheral neuropathy), and muscle weakness (myopathy), and damage to the retina of the eye (pigmented retinopathy).

The developing nervous system appears especially vulnerable to deficiency because children with severe cases from birth, who are not treated with this nutrient, develop neurological systems rapidly.

Another advantage of liquid vitamins is the ease of taking a liquid compared to a pill or a capsule. Although true deficiency of this nutrient is rare, suboptimal intake of this nutrient is relatively common in the U.S.

Major sources of alpha-tocopherol in the American diet include vegetable oils, nuts, whole grains, and leafy vegetables. All eight forms of vitamin E occur naturally in foods, but in varying amounts.

The best food sources for vitamin E include: Olive oil, soybean oil, corn oil, canola oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, spinach, carrots, and avocados. Vitamin E supplements generally contain 100 IU to 1,000 IU of alpha-tocopherol.

Alpha-tocopherol supplements are available in the ester form which is more resistant to oxidation during storage the unesterfied. Gamma-tocopherol supplements and mixed tocopherol supplements are also available commercially.

There are several very good brands of liquid vitamins available in today's marketplace including

Vitamin E deficiency & Naturally Direct Vitamins