By:Ross Althizer, Abby Nye, Allison Cubbage, and

Jessica Cammiso

What if there was a vitamin that could prevent heart disease,

cancer, cataracts, or even Alzheimers?

Vitamin E

● There have been clinical trials to test these theories, but not enough evidence of its success in preventing these diseases.

● There has been a recent study at Johns Hopkins that concluded that high doses of vitamin E could increase the risk of death.

DRI/RDA● Men and women

ages 14+ require the most vitamin E of any other age group, at 15 mg/day

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-HealthProfessional/

Major Functions of Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that speeds up cell regeneration and removes free radicals that damage cell structure. Its antioxidant properties provides many functions some including:

● Support cognitive development.● Anti-aging agent

o Supports healthy brain function.o Can decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other

neurological diseases. Can also help slow the onset of the brain disease when diagnosed.

● Protection against toxins (air pollution).● Protection from eye disorders (cataracts).● Protection from premenstrual syndrome. ● Vitamin E oil can help the healing process, treat sunburn, and

protect against the sun

Major Sources of Vitamin EFood Portion Milligrams of Vitamin E

Sunflower seeds(dry roasted) ¼ cup 8.4

Spinach(cooked) 1 cup 6.7

Safflower oil 1 tablespoon 4.6

Beet greens(cooked) 1 cup 2.6

Pumpkin(canned) 1 cup 2.6

Almonds 1 ounce 7.4

Red peppers(raw) 1 cup 2.4

Asparagus(cooked) 1 cup 2.2

Swordfish(cooked) 3 ounces 2.1

Symptoms include:- General nerve degeneration such as:

● Muscle weakness● Loss of muscle mass● Abnormal eye movements● Vision problems● Unsteady walking

- Extended periods of deficiency cause liver & kidney damage.

Deficiencies of Vitamin E

Deficiencies continued...Vitamin E deficiency is most common in developing countries and very rare in developed.- Diseases that arise from vitamin E deficiencies (and

malabsorption of fat):● Mild hemolytic anemia (destruction of red blood cells)● Retinopathy (blindness)● Cystic Fibrosis (fluid in lungs)● Spinocerebellar ataxia (loss of reflexes and senses)

- Treatments include adding a supplement to aid infat absorption

Vitamin E Toxicity

High levels do not have a significant harm (400mg - 800mg/day).

- Some symptoms that may appear:● Nausea● Fatigue● Diarrhea● Muscle weakness ● Bleeding is uncommon unless dosage exceeds

1000mg/day or prescribed certain medications- May increase risk of stroke and premature

death (however reports are inconclusive)

Interesting Facts

● Vitamin E deficiencies rarely occur in most people

● Vitamin protects cell membranes from free radicals that cause oxidation

● It loses its potency when exposed to air, light, and heat

Interesting Facts

● Vitamin E is an essential nutrient, so we need to include it in our diet

● Researchers have concluded that using Vitamin E topically before and after surgery can help heal scar tissue

References- Ehrlich, Steven. “Vitamin E.” University of Maryland Medical Center. 15 Jan 2012.

<http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-e>. - Fata GL, Weber P, Mohajeri MH. Effects of Vitamin E on Cognitive Performance during Ageing and in

Alzheimer’s Disease. Nutrients. 2014; 6(12):5453-5472.- "Interesting Facts about Vitamin E." Beauty Water. Web. 5 Mar. 2015.

<http://beautywater.ro/eng/about/beautywater-q10/interesting-facts-about-vitamin-e/>.- Johnson, Larry. “Vitamin E.” The Merck Manual, Professional Edition. Oct. 2014. Web.

<http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/>. - Krans, Brian. "Can I Use Vitamin E Oil for Scars?" Healthline. 17 Sept. 2014. Web. 5 Mar. 2015.

<http://www.healthline.com/health/vitamin-e-oil-scars>.- Peterson, George. "Interesting Facts about Vitamin E." Interesting Facts About Vitamin E. Web. 4 Mar.

2015. <http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/interesting-facts-about-vitamin-e>.- Weil, Andrew. "Supplements & Herbs." Facts About Vitamin E. Web. 5 Mar. 2015.

<http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02813/facts-about-vitamin-e>.- "Vitamin E." Health Professional Fact Sheet. National Institutes of Health, 5 June 2013. Web. 18 Mar.

2015. - <http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-HealthProfessional/>.- "STUDY SHOWS HIGH-DOSE VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENTS MAY INCREASE RISK OF DYING." Johns

Hopkins Medicine. 10 Nov. 2004. Web. 18 Mar. 2015. <http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/press_releases/2004/11_10_04.html>.