Vitamin E is a micro-nutrient needed by the body to sustain health and well-being. Since the body cannot make this nutrient on its own, our diets must include a healthy dose of Vitamin E through natural food sources and/or supplementation. There are several reasons why supplementation of this Vitamin is considered necessary not only to maintain good health but also promote specific health benefits.
• In its application as an antioxidant, Vitamin E plays a popular role in cosmetics. It is known to neutralize the effects of free radicals and act as an anti-aging agent diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also works as a moisturizer and research shows it may help protect the skin from UV damage.1
• Because of its antioxidant properties, higher doses of Vitamin E are considered to play a preventive role in heart disease, tissue damage, diabetes and other degenerative ailments, particularly of the prostate, colon and bladder. It is also known to support and promote vision.2-5
• Vitamin E is known for its therapeutic functions and plays a beneficial role in women's health concerns.6
Negative publicity - is there good news for Vitamin E?
According to the Nutrition Business Journal, in 2005 vitamin E sales tumbled by 32 percent after a meta-analysis linking tocopherol, an active chemical compound of Vitamin E, to all-cause mortality was made public. Because of negative publicity, sales of Vitamin E declined over the years leaving supplement manufacturers wondering whether sales of Vitamin E will ever pick up. The answer to this question is yes! Scientists are talking about the next generation Vitamin E called tocotrienols which holds significant potential for boosting the positive profile of Vitamin E.
Tocotrienols
High levels of tocotrienols are found in palm oils, cereal grains and rice bran. Both tocopherols and tocotrienols are chemical compounds that belong to the Vitamin E family. Both are antioxidants and both are fat-soluble. Research shows that tocotrienols may possibly be the more efficacious chemical compounds of Vitamin E. Although less researched than tocopherols, studies done so far on tocotrienols hold promising benefits for positively impacting health without the negative effects that have been associated with tocopherol.
A distinguishing factor between tocopherol and tocotrienol is in the tail. Tocopherols have longer tails which limit their ability to move around in a cell's membrane, whereas tocotrienols have shorter tails which allows them mobility and greater access to protecting a larger area of cellular membrane.
• Supplementation with palm-derived tocotrienols is associated with a reduction in cholesterol levels. Cardiovascular benefits associated with tocotrienol include arterial compliance, improved blood pressure, and increased antioxidant activity that may improve ventricular function. Palm-derived gamma and alpha tocotrienol are associated with reduction in triglyceride levels by 28 percent, according to a study conducted by the Davos Life Sciences and Malaysia Palm Oil Board.7
• A study published in Journal of Nutrition (July 2010) for the first time showed that a supplement mixture of all four toctrienols taken daily may improve T-cell functions thus improving immune response.8
• Alpha-tocotrienol is believed to have neuro-protective effects, according to scientists at the Ohio State University.9
• Tocotrienol has been linked to increasing hair growth in people who have male pattern baldness. In this function, it may be used in combination with other nutritive ingredients to support healthy hair.
Many people can and do benefit from Vitamin E supplementation when taken according to the dosage recommended by the Food and Nutrition Board. The RDI of Vitamin E is 15 mg (22.4 IU) for an average adult with tolerable upper intake levels at 1,000 mg (1,500 IUs). Most supplements contain Vitamin E in the form of dl-alpha tocopherol, a synthetic form of Vitamin E that, although mixed products containing tocopherols and tocontrienols can be manufactured. The body needs twice as much of dl-alpha tocopherol because it is only half as active as the natural form of Vitamin E.
Manufacturing a Vitamin E Supplement
You can manufacture vitamins using the latest research on tocopherols and tocotrienols to your advantage. The highly qualified research team at Nutricap Labs, a leading contract vitamin manufacturer, can help you create a Vitamin E formula that meets your demand for high-quality, science-backed supplements. The GMP-certified facility at Nutricap Labs equipped with state-of-the-art machinery facilitates quality, precision, cost-effective and quick manufacturing with short lead times. Submit a request to receive a free Vitamin E manufacturing quote in 24 to 48 hours today!
References:
1. A new wrinkle on topical vitamin E and photo-inflammation: Mechanistic studies of a hydrophilic gamma-tocopherol derivative compared with alpha-tocopherol, J Invest Dermatol. 2006 Jul;126(7):1447-9.
2. Neurologic findings in vitamin E deficiency, Am Fam Physician 1997;55:197-201. [PubMed abstract]
3. Vitamin C and vitamin E supplement use and bladder cancer mortality in a large cohort of US men and women. Am J Epidemiol 2002;156:1002-10. [PubMed abstract]
4. What causes prostate cancer? A brief summary of the epidemiology. Semin Cancer Biol 1998;8:263-73. [PubMed abstract]
5. Reduced risk of colon cancer with high intakes of vitamin E: the Iowa Women's Health Study. Cancer Res 1993;15:4230-17. [PubMed abstract]
6. The effect of vitamin E on hot flashes in menopausal women, Gynecol Obstet Invest. 2007;64(4):204-7. Epub 2007 Jul 30.
7. Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis, Vol. 17, pp.1019-1032.
8. Journal of Nutrition, July 2010), Vol. 140, pp. 1335-1341.
9. Journal of Neurochemistry, 2010, doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06550.x
Health Benefits Associated With Vitamin E
