Vitamin E Essential for fertility and reproduction. Deficiency in rats leads to absorption in the female and loss of fertility on the male. The vitamin is supposed to work as an antioxidant that protects the cells from attack by reactive form of oxygen and free radicals. It is also nvolved in red blood cell formation.
The structure is that of the tocopherols. These are methylated derivatives of tocol.
They are widely distributed in vegetable lipids and in the body fat of animals, though animals cannot synthesize them. They have vitamin E activity and can protect unsaturated lipids against oxidation. Four are found naturally:
- alpha - tocopherol, C29H50 O2 is 5,7,8,-trimethyltocol - strongest vitamin E activity.
- beta - tocopherol C28H48 O2 is 5,8,-trimethyltocol
- gamma - tocopherol C28H48 O2 is 7,8,-trimethyltocol
- delta - tocopherol C27H46 O2 is 8,-trimethyltocol
Good sources of Vitamin E are vegetable oils, nuts and nut oils seeds, egg yolk, margarine, Parmesan, Cheddar, chickpeas, soya beans, wheat germ, oatmeal, avocados, olives, carrots, parsnips, red peppers, green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, sweet corn, watercress.
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Vitamin E -3D structure |
Vitamin E -2D structure - C26H44O2 |
