Vitamin E is known mostly for its antioxidant properties, but this nutrient does so much more than that! In fact, it also has many other benefits that are not as well known. In this article, explore some of the lesser-known facts about vitamin E and how it can help improve your overall health.
Vitamin E is one of the fat-soluble vitamins that is stored in our body's fatty tissues to be used as needed. This powerful antioxidant is essential for maintaining the health of our cells and tissues, and helps fight free radicals or harmful molecules to prevent cellular damage.1
Here are a few benefits of vitamin E that may convince you to incorporate it into your daily routine:
Give your skin extra love by making sure you get enough vitamin E! This game changing nutrient offers a bunch of benefits, such as shielding the skin from harmful UV rays, boosting skin elasticity, and keeping skin cells healthy.2
Vitamin E is a powerful nutrient that can work wonders on your blood vessels. By acting as a vasodilator, it helps to widen blood vessels and support healthy blood flow, which is essential for wound healing.12
But that's not all - having healthier blood vessels can also reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Studies have shown that vitamin E may have a beneficial effect on hypertension, a condition that can be linked to high levels of oxidative stress and inflammation.13
Dealing with painful menstrual cramps is no fun, but vitamin E may be able to help ease the discomfort! Some studies have found that taking vitamin E supplements could reduce the severity and duration of menstrual cramps, especially for women with dysmenorrhea.14
Vitamin E can help regulate the production of prostaglandins in the body. Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances that are involved in a variety of physiological processes, including inflammation, blood flow, and the formation of blood clots.15
Vitamin E's antioxidant properties could also be beneficial, when it comes to menstrual migraines .16 Migraines are thought to be caused by changes in brain chemicals like serotonin, which can cause inflammation and oxidative stress.17 By keeping these hormone levels in check during the menstrual cycle, vitamin E may lower the chance of experiencing menstrual migraines. 18
If you're dealing with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), taking vitamin E supplements may help improve your conditions.19 NAFLD occurs when too much fat accumulates in the liver, and is linked to obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome.
Studies of vitamin E supplementation in NAFLD showed improvement in biochemical profiles, with a decline in or normalization of liver enzymes.20 Elevated levels of AST and ALT can signify liver inflammation and damage in patients with NAFLD.
Vitamin E is abundant in a wide range of foods, such as nuts, seeds, leafy greens, and vegetable oils. It can also be found in fishes like salmon, trout, mackerel, sardines, tuna, and herring.
Incorporating supplements into your daily diet is a great way to get an additional dose of essential nutrients. This is especially helpful, if you're uncertain whether your diet supplies enough to meet your daily vitamin E quota.
For your safety, make sure to source your vitamin E supplement from a trusted brand. dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Pharex E®), manufactured by Pharex, contains the powerful antioxidant Vitamin E that provides all the benefits discussed in this article.
Pharex® E offers cost-effective protection at an affordable price of Php 9.50 per capsule. It is also available in boxes of 30s (in blister packs by 10s).
Take one capsule (400 IU) of Pharex E orally, once a day, or as prescribed by your doctor.
If symptoms persist consult a doctor.
References:
1. Vitamin E | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (n.d.). Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-e/
2.Vitamin E and Skin Health | Linus Pauling Institute | Oregon State University. (n.d.). Linus Pauling Institute. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-E
3. Vitamin E and Skin Health | Linus Pauling Institute | Oregon State University. (n.d.). Linus Pauling Institute. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-E
4. Dahmane, R. (n.d.). Free Radicals and Extrinsic Skin Aging - PMC. NCBI. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3299230/
5.Bioactive Compounds for Skin Health: A Review. (2021, January 12). NCBI. Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7827176/
6. Quinn, P. (n.d.). The location and function of vitamin E in membranes (review). PubMed. Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11128973/
7.Phillips, T. (n.d.). Patients with chronic leg ulcers show diminished levels of vitamins A and E, carotenes, and zinc. PubMed. Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10491041/
8. Vitamin E and Skin Health | Linus Pauling Institute | Oregon State University. (n.d.). Linus Pauling Institute. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-E
9. Vitamin E supplementation in inflammatory skin diseases. (n.d.). PubMed. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34655146/
10. Role of Oxidative Stress in Various Stages of Psoriasis. (n.d.). NCBI. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2994563/
11. Oxidative Stress and Atopic Dermatitis - PMC. (2020, February 26). NCBI. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7139929/
12. Vitamin E - Consumer. (2021, March 22). NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-Consumer/
13. Vitamin E can reduce blood pressure in mild hypertensives. (n.d.). PubMed. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12463106/
14. Hosseini, M. A. (n.d.). Comparison of the effect of vitamin E, vitamin D and ginger on the severity of primary dysmenorrhea: a single-blind clinical trial. NCBI. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6856484/
15. Ricciotti, E., & FitzGerald, G. A. (n.d.). Prostaglandins and Inflammation - PMC. NCBI. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3081099/
16.Sedighi, A. (n.d.). The effect of vitamin E on the treatment of menstrual migraine. PubMed. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19114966/
17. Vitamin E: The Real Hormone Balancing Supplement. (2021, February 15). Hormone Healing RD. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/blog/vitamin-E-supplements
Supporting source for menstruation:Sedighi, A. (n.d.). The effect of vitamin E on the treatment of menstrual migraine. PubMed. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19114966/
18. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-e/art-20364144
19. Vitamin E. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-e/art-20364144
20. The Role of Vitamin E in the Treatment of NAFLD. (2018, September 24). NCBI. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6313719/
Supporting Sources:
Bioactive Compounds for Skin Health: A Review. (2021, January 12). NCBI. Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7827176/
https://www.healthline.com/health/all-about-vitamin-e#3.-May-benefit-those-with-nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease-(NAFLD)