VITAMIN E (O.S.)

Overview

Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) contributes to the normal maintenance of biomembranes, the vascular and nervous systems, and provides antioxidant protection for vitamin A. The level of vitamin E in the plasma or serum after a 12- to 14-hour fast reflects the individuals reserve status.Deficiency of vitamin E in children leads to reversible motor and sensory neuropathies; this problem also has been suspected in adults. Premature infants who require an oxygen-enriched atmosphere are at increased risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia and retrolental fibroplasia; supplementation with vitamin E has been shown to lessen the severity of, and may even prevent, those problems. Deficiencies of vitamin E may arise from poor nutrition or from intestinal malabsorption. At-risk persons, especially children, include those with bowel disease, pancreatic disease, chronic cholestasis, celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, and intestinal lymphangiectasia.