Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that is best known for its antioxidant activity. There has been much interest in vitamin E supplementation to treat and prevent a wide variety of conditions. In recent years, however, there has been some concern that high doses of vitamin E may actually cause more harm than good.
Many of the effects of vitamin E can be attributed to its antioxidant effects. As an antioxidant, vitamin E helps prevent the formation of free radicals, damaging molecules or atoms that can start a chain reaction of cellular damage. Free radicals play a role in various age-related conditions, such as cancer and
heart disease.
There are eight different types of vitamin E, some of which are more active than others. The most active form is known as alpha-tocopherol, and there are two different forms of alpha-tocopherol. The natural form (which occurs in foods) is known as d-alpha-tocopherol or RRR-alpha-tocopherol. The synthetic (manufactured) form is known as dl-alpha-tocopherol or all-rac-alpha-tocopherol. Vitamin E supplements may contain either or both types of alpha-tocopherol. The natural form is said to be about twice as active as the synthetic form.
Some people think that natural vitamin E is better for various uses compared to synthetic vitamin E, but research has not supported such claims.
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