Vitamin E: How much is enough, too much and why!

Maret G Traber, Brian Head

Journal: Free radical biology & medicine 2021;177():212-225

PMID: 34699937

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

α-Tocopherol (α-T) is a required dietary nutrient for humans and thus is a vitamin. This narrative review focuses on vitamin E structures, functions, biological determinants and its deficiency symptoms in humans. The mechanisms for the preferential α-T tissue enrichment in the human body include the α-T transfer protein (TTPA) and the preferential metabolism of non-α-T forms. Potential new α-T biomarkers, pharmacokinetic data, and whether there are better approaches to evaluate and set the α-T dietary requirement are discussed. Finally, the possible role of α-T supplements in delay of chronic diseases and the evaluation of vitamin E safety are considered.

Address: Linus Pauling Institute, USA; School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].; Linus Pauling Institute, USA; Molecular and Cell Biology Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.

DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.10.028

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MeSH Terms: Diet, Dietary Supplements, Humans, Vitamin E, Vitamin E Deficiency, alpha-Tocopherol