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Many tocopherols, one vitamin E.

Angelo Azzi1

  • 1Vascular Biology Laboratory, JM USDA-HNRCA at Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA.

Molecular Aspects of Medicine
|June 19, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Vitamin E (tocopherols) is essential for preventing deficiency diseases like ataxia. Current intake recommendations and disease prevention claims require re-evaluation due to inconsistent evidence and outdated testing methods.

Keywords:
AVEDAntioxidantsAtaxiaCancerCell signalingFree radicalsGene transcriptionImmune responseInflammationKinaseNASHNon-antioxidantReference intakeTocopherolsVitamin E

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Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Science
  • Biochemistry
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Four natural tocopherols exist, but only RRR-α-tocopherol functions as a vitamin.
  • Biological activity in rats does not consistently translate to human pregnancy outcomes.
  • The precise cause of ataxia from RRR-α-tocopherol deficiency remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the established methods for determining vitamin E's Daily Reference Intake (DRI).
  • To assess the validity of epidemiological findings linking vitamin E to chronic disease prevention.
  • To explore vitamin E's potential anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, and other health benefits.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on tocopherol biological activity and deficiency diseases.
  • Analysis of the validity of the peroxide-induced erythrocyte hemolysis test for DRI calculation.
  • Comparison of epidemiological study results with clinical intervention trial outcomes.
  • Investigation of vitamin E's molecular mechanisms, including cell signaling and gene transcription.

Main Results:

  • The resorption-gestation test in rats is not reliably applicable to human pregnancy.
  • The 'gold standard' test for DRI calculation is of questionable validity.
  • Epidemiological studies suggest vitamin E-rich diets may prevent cardiovascular events, neurodegenerative diseases, macular degeneration, and cancer, but clinical trials largely failed to confirm these benefits.
  • Vitamin E demonstrates anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties, and shows efficacy in nonalcoholic hepato-steatosis prevention.
  • Vitamin E and its metabolites can regulate cell signaling and gene transcription.

Conclusions:

  • Current vitamin E recommendations and disease prevention claims require reassessment based on updated scientific evidence.
  • Vitamin E plays crucial roles beyond deficiency disease prevention, including immune support and cellular regulation.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the pathogenetic mechanisms of vitamin E deficiency and optimize its therapeutic applications.