Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 20, 2026
12:48
PLGA Nanoparticles Formed by Single- or Double-emulsion with Vitamin E-TPGS
Published on: December 27, 2013
67.4K
The Two Sides of Vitamin E Supplementation
1Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Gerontology
|November 28, 2014
Summary
Vitamin E, a popular antioxidant supplement, may accelerate aging by promoting bone loss. Research questions its role in preventing age-related diseases, suggesting potential harm in humans.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Gerontology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Vitamin E is a widely used lipid-soluble antioxidant supplement believed to prevent aging.
- Reactive oxygen species are implicated in the aging process.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of vitamin E's role in age-related disease prevention.
- To investigate the dual effects of vitamin E on aging.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on vitamin E and aging.
- Analysis of rodent studies on alpha-tocopherol and bone metabolism.
- Examination of human clinical intervention trials.
Main Results:
- Alpha-tocopherol, a major form of vitamin E, stimulates osteoclast fusion and bone resorption.
- Vitamin E supplementation may induce an osteoporosis-like phenotype in rodents.
- Human trials indicate vitamin E supplementation is neutral or detrimental for preventing age-related diseases.
Conclusions:
- The traditional view of vitamin E as an 'anti-ager' is challenged by recent findings.
- Vitamin E's role in preventing age-related diseases requires re-evaluation.
- Further research is needed to clarify vitamin E's complex effects on aging and health.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Vitamins
3.2K
Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced...
3.2K
01:23Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
9.1K
The skin plays a crucial role in the synthesis of vitamin D, a vital nutrient for various physiological processes in the body. Vitamin D is unique because it can be synthesized in the skin through a series of chemical reactions triggered by exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight.
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin...
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin...
9.1K
01:22Connective Tissue Cell Types
4.6K
Connective tissue develops from the mesoderm of a developing embryo and consists of cells, fibers, and ground substance: a gel-like material containing large complexes of carbohydrates and proteins. Connective tissue was first identified as a separate tissue family in the 18th century, and Johannes Peter Muller coined the term connective tissue.
Fat cells (adipocytes), smooth muscle cells (myoblasts), and bone cells (osteoblasts) are some connective tissue cell types. Some immune system cells...
Fat cells (adipocytes), smooth muscle cells (myoblasts), and bone cells (osteoblasts) are some connective tissue cell types. Some immune system cells...
4.6K
01:31Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body
7.5K
Fats and lipids are crucial components in the human body. Some lipid-derived compounds, such as fat-soluble vitamins, eicosanoids, lipoproteins, and glycolipids, also play unique roles to support various biological processes .
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin,...
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin,...
7.5K
01:30Electroconvulsive Therapy
2.4K
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early...
2.4K
01:18Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants
2.9K
Oral anticoagulants are vital tools in preventing and treating blood clotting disorders. This diverse class of medications can be categorized as vitamin K antagonists, exemplified by warfarin, and direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs), such as dabigatran, as well as factor Xa inhibitors, including rivaroxaban.
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
2.9K