Vitamin E or tocopherol acts as a potent antioxidant that works to reduce the effects of free radical damage. It also is an anti-tumor agent. This fat-soluble vitamin is an important nutrient for the nervous, reproductive, and skeletal systems. It also is needed by the muscles, red blood cells, and corpuscles. Topically, Vitamin E is effective for burns and other wounds. A decrease in red blood cells might indicate a deficiency in Vitamin E.
Vitamin E is found in seed and vegetable oils (especially safflower oil and wheat germ oil), nuts, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, butter, egg yolks, leafy vegetables, beef liver, meat, milk, molasses, peanuts, legumes (soybeans, peas, beans), unrefined cereal products, wheat germ, and whole wheat.
Vitamin E is most effective when taken with Vitamin A, B-Complex, Vitamin B-1, inositol, Vitamin C, manganese, and selenium. It helps protect cells from free radical injury and is key for normal growth and development. It also serves as an antioxidant to help protect against cancers, cataracts, and heart disease.
Diseases prevented by the therapeutic benefits of Vitamin E include: alcoholism, Alzheimer's disease, anemia, arthritis, ataxia, brain injury, cancer sores, cataracts, cervical dysplasia, Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, epilepsy, hepatitis, herpes simplex, hypertension, immune dysfunction, kidney disease, leg cramps, multiple sclerosis, neurological conditions, osteoarthritis, Parkinson's disease, peripheral premature aging, PMS, pulmonary conditions, respiratory conditions, recurrent infection, tardive dyskinesia (involuntary muscle movement), thyroid conditions, tuberculosis, and ulcerative colitis. (Information from the Herbal Information Center & Vitamin Directory).
