Vitamin E and Free Radicals- What you should know.
by Derek Burreson
I came across another study in the Natural Products Insider that was done on vitamin E and its beneficial effects against free radicals in the body. You can read the report by clicking the link below, but what is vitamin E and how does it work? Much like vitamin C, vitamin E is a power antioxidant that protects human cells and LDL cholesterol from damage caused by free radicals. According to research, vitamin E is actually a family of eight antioxidant compounds. I will save the specifics for a later post, buy it also protects other fat-soluble vitamins from oxidative damage and aids in the utilization of vitamin A. The recommended daily intake U.S.R.D.A. for vitamin E is about 22 IU (International Units) up to the maximum upper intake level of 1,500 IU. It is also recommended that you take the natural form of vitamin E which is listed as d-alpha-tocopherol, rrr-alpha-tocopherol, d-alpha-tocopherol-acetate or d-alpha-tocopherol succinate. The natural form of vitamin E is better absorbed by the body than the synthetic form (dl-alpha-tocopherol, all-alpha-tocopherol). Synthetic is only 67 percent as active as the natural form. So if you are currently taking a supplement that contains vitamin E, check the label to see what form it is and you are getting what you pay for.
Sources: Prescription for Nutritional Healing: Fourth Edition: Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
National Institute of Health
Natural Products Insider
http://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/hotnews/vitamin-e-fights-free-radicals.html