Free radicals can damage any part of the body’s cells and attack the genes within each cell. They are unstable oxygen molecules that have lost an electron and, upon trying to capture one from another healthy molecule, start a chain reaction having harmful effects, such as arthritis, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and many other maladies affecting humans over the years.
Presence of Vitamin E in food
Amount | Milligrams of Vitam in E | |
Broccoli, frozen, chopped, cooked without salt | 1 cup | 2.4 |
Vegetable oil, canola | 1 tablespoon | 2.4 |
Mango | 1 | 2.3 |
Carrot juice, canned | 1 cup | 2.7 |
Peanuts, roasted, with salt | 30 grams (28 peanuts) | 2.2 |
Frozen asparagus, cooked, unsalted | 1 cup | 2.2 |
Peanut oil | 1 tablespoon | 2.1 |
Soy milk | 1 tablespoon | 1.9 |
Soy milk | 1 cup | 3.3 |
Soybean oil | 1 tablespoon | 1.7 |
The term Vitamin E describes a family of eight antioxidants: four tocopherols (α-, β-, γ-, and δ-) and four tocotrienols (α-, β-, γ-, and δ-). Α-Tocopherol is the only form of Vitamin E that is actively maintained in the human body; therefore, it is the form of Vitamin E that is found in the largest amounts in blood and tissues.
Fats, which are an integral part of all cell membranes, are vulnerable to destruction by oxidation through free radicals. The fat-soluble vitamin α-tocopherol is uniquely suited to trapping free radicals and, thus, preventing a chain reaction of lipid destruction. In addition to maintaining the integrity of cell membranes throughout the body, α-tocopherol also protects fats in low-density lipoproteins (LDL) from oxidation.
d-Alpha tocopherol
d-Beta tocopherol
d-Gamma tocopherol
d-Delta tocopherol
Since the recommended daily dose of Vitamin E is 15 mg, when one does not eat a balanced diet it is difficult to attain these levels, so supplements are recommended.
Products for nutritional supplements
Type | Form | Concentration IU | Concentration % | Oil/support |
d-Alfa tocopherol | Oil | 1000 IU | 67,10% | soy or sunflower |
d-Alfa tocopherol | Oil | 1300 IU | 87,20% | soy or sunflower |
d-Alfa tocopherol | Oil | 1430 IU | 95,97% | |
d-Alfa tocopheryl acetate | Powder | 340 IU | 25% | silicon dioxide |
d-Alfa tocopheryl acetate | Powder | 544 IU | 40% | silicon dioxide |
d-Alfa tocopheryl acetate | Powder | 700 IU | 51,50% | starch |
d-Alfa tocopheryl acetate | Oil | 1100 IU | 80,90% | soy |
d-Alfa tocopheryl acetate | Oil | 1250 IU | 91,90% | |
d-Alfa tocopheryl succinate 1210 | Powder | 1162 IU | 96% | |
d-Alfa tocopheryl succinate 1185 | Powder | 1162 IU | 96% | Ethylcellulose |