Vitamin E Deficiency and Excess

DEFINITIONS

Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) is an antioxidant that protects cells against damage by reactive chemicals known as free radicals.
Vitamin E and selenium (an essential mineral that is a component of antioxidant enzymes) has the same properties.

LACK OF VITAMIN E

Premature infants have a reserve of vitamin E is very small and can suffer from a deficiency of vitamin E when given foods containing lots of saturated fat and contain some vitamin E.
Unsaturated fats are prooksidan (materials easily oxidized into free radicals), which is the opposite of vitamin E and can cause rupture of red blood cells (hemolisa).

Diseases associated with the absorption of fat can also reduce the absorption of vitamin E and increase the risk of deficiency of vitamin E:
- Celiac disease
- Blockage of the bile ducts
- Cystic fibrosis
- Chrohn disease.

In premature infants, a deficiency of vitamin E causes problems in the eyes (retinopathy) and brain hemorrhage.
Secondly it can also result from exposure to high oxygen levels in the incubator.

In older children, a deficiency of vitamin E will cause interference with absorption in the intestine and the symptoms are similar to neurological disorders, such as decreased reflexes, difficulty walking, double vision, loss of sensation and muscle weakness positions.

Diagnosis based on blood tests that showed low levels of vitamin E in the blood.
Additional vitamin E by mouth (swallowed) in large doses, will reduce most of the symptoms, but the recovery of the nervous system may be delayed for several months.

EXCESS VITAMIN E

High doses of vitamin E given to premature babies to reduce the risk of retinopathy, apparently did not show significant side effects.

In adults, high doses of vitamin E almost no side effects, except increased need for vitamin K, which can cause bleeding in people taking anticoagulant drugs.