A Vitamin E deficiency rarely develops in otherwise healthy people, even those with bad diets. There are many reasons for this, but mainly it is because the body’s daily need for Vitamin E is fairly low, but it also helps that we can store Vitamin E so it isn’t necessary to consume it every day. The vast majority of individuals who develop a Vitamin E deficiency have some disease or injury that prevents the Vitamin E from being absorbed from the food they eat. Vitamin E is found in a large variety of foods including most fruits and vegetables, eggs, milk and vegetable oils. The amount required by the body is 30 IUs per day.
Vitamin E deficiency usually develops as a result of a disease that effects digestion in general, like Cystic Fibrosis or Crohn’s disease. With these diseases, Vitamin E, along with many other nutrients are not properly extracted from the food because the normal digestive process does not function properly. There are other situation, such as alcoholism or certain liver diseases, where Vitamin E in particular is not able to be absorbed into the body because the bodies ability to digest fat is impaired. Vitamin E is a fat soluble nutrient, which means in order for it to be extracted from food, it needs to enter the body with the fat we eat. People who are diagnosed with these types of diseases are often told they need to take supplements of Vitamin E ( along with other nutrients).
One of the major functions of Vitamin E is to protect the cell membranes of our cells throughout the body. There are certain cells where a deficiency of Vitamin E, and the destruction of cellular membranes will show symptoms rapidly. One type of cell that is extremely susceptible to Vitamin E deficiency is our red blood cells. Vitamin E is used to protect the red blood cells from free radicals, which are highly reactive chemicals that quickly destroy the cells. When there is a Vitamin E deficiency, one of the probable symptoms is anemia caused by excess destruction of red blood cells.
Another area where a deficiency of Vitamin E becomes a problem is with the nervous system. There are two different areas that are affected within the nervous system. A Vitamin E deficiency can cause a rapid decline in vision, which continues all the way until complete blindness. Furthermore, a Vitamin E deficiency can cause problem problems with the overall neuromuscular system. The most common symptoms are muscle weakness, loss of coordination, or in severe cases, the inability to control muscles or even entire limbs.
Vitamin E also has many other functions in the body that are all impaired when there is a deficiency. Vitamin E is an important part of the immune response, so a deficiency can cause prolonged or frequent sickness. Vitamin E is an important part of the clotting process and a deficiency can cause excessive clotting that can lead to cardiovascular disease. Along with this, Vitamin E is used in the formation and later, the proper elimination of scar tissue, so a deficiency can lead to slow healing and unsightly wound repair.
The most frequent cause of Vitamin E deficiency is a digestive disease of the intestines, or a problem with the liver that causes inproper fat digestion. Vitamin E is fairly easily obtained in a normal diet, and because the body can store excess Vitamin E, a deficiency rarely develops in healthy people. The most common symptoms of a Vitamin E deficiency include anemia because of the rapid destruction of red blood cells. The nervous system will also show symptoms from a Vitamin E deficiency such as decreased vision that leads to blindness, along with problems with muscular control such as weakness, lack of coordination, or total loss of muscle control.
