Vitamin E Deficiency

Vitamin E is a collective name given to a family of fat-soluble compounds. These compounds have antioxidant properties. The different isomers (forms) of this vitamin are alpha, beta, gamma and delta tocopherol. The rest are alpha, beta, gamma and delta tocotrienol. That makes it a total of eight compounds or forms in which Vitamin E exists. Many medical disorders can be prevented by incorporating Vitamin E in our diet. Free radicals in the body are responsible for damaging the body's cells, heart disease and cancer are the common ailments caused due to free radicals. Vitamin E works to protect the body against such free radicals. Vitamin E deficiency is rare, however, it affects people who cannot absorb fat normally.

Symptoms of Vitamin E Deficiency
Vitamin E deficiency causes a variety of symptoms in infants. Common symptoms are crying child, poor or delayed growth in the child and loss of weight. Feeding problems are also monitored in infants as one of the symptoms. Irritability and edema are the other symptoms of vitamin E deficiency. Irritability is signified by the person getting easily annoyed or frustrated. The most common and severe symptom is anemia in adults. Anemia, as we all known, is the reduction in the production of red blood cells (RBC) in the body.

Vitamin E deficiency also causes reproductive problems and lack of sexual vitality. Fat gets deposited in muscles abnormally and there are degenerative changes in the heart and other muscles. Other severe symptoms like neurological and malabsorptive disorders have also been recorded due to vitamin E deficiency.

As mentioned, Vitamin E deficiency is a rare condition. Not all people are prone to this deficiency, except for some that have been mentioned below.

Those who are aged more than 55 years and infants having critical low birth weight. People addicted to drugs and alcohol are also prone to vitamin E deficiency, along with those suffering from chronic wasting illness. Vitamin E deficiency is also a common condition in people who have inadequacy in their nutritional diets and those who have ailments such as liver, pancreatic or gallbladder diseases.

People who have recent incidents of burns/injury or have undergone surgery, should also include proper amount of Vitamin E to prevent the deficiency. People facing stress for a long time or having cystic fibrosis and celiac disease, should increase their consumption of Vitamin E. In case of hyperthyriodism and myocardial infection as well, there is a risk of such kind of a vitamin deficiency.

Vitamin E for Skin
Does vitamin E help skin? Of course it does! Vitamin E has been known for its numerous health benefits, especially for the skin. Some of its benefits have been described below.
As vitamin E is antioxidant in nature, it protects the skin cells from the harmful UV light. It also acts a protective barrier for skin against pollution and other elements that are responsible for producing free radicals. This vitamin also has the capability of regulating the amount of vitamin A in the body, which is also beneficial for the skin.

Ability of vitamin E to act as an anti-aging agent, has caused it to be an effective addition to lotions, creams and other skin products. In short it makes the skin looks younger by reducing fine lines and wrinkles. The vitamin is also beneficial in treating sunburns and acts as beneficial sunscreens when used in skin care lotions.

For treatment of different skin disorders such as psoriasis and erythema most people turn towards vitamin E. One of the most important benefits of this vitamin is its ability to treat skin cancer, mainly due to its antioxidant properties.

Which Food Sources Help in Preventing Vitamin E Deficiency?
Foods containing vitamin E are whole grains such as wheat and oats, wheat germ ,leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds. Non-veg foods such as sardines and egg yolks also provide sufficient amount of vitamin E required for good health. Other vitamin E rich sources are sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oils, almonds, popcorn, peanuts, margarine, Muesli, flapjacks, avocado, hazelnuts and rapeseed oil. Certain vitamin supplements are also available that are rich in vitamin E.

Vitamin E deficiency can cause major turmoils in the human system and we have seen the ill effects of its deficiency. People who are more prone to vitamin e deficiency should take extra care in including more of this vitamin in their diet. Vitamins act as a protective shield for our health and so adequate quantities of all the vitamins are necessary for a healthy body and sound mind.