Vitamin E is known as antisterility vitamin because it is required for normal reproduction in animals and men.

Functions.

1. Vitamin E is the primary antioxidant in the body and serves to protect polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from oxidation in cells and maintain integrity of the cell membrane. It also prevents the oxidation of beta carotene and Vitamin A. Vitamin E helps to maintain cell
membrane integrity and protect RBC against hemolysis.
2. Vitamin E reduces platelet aggregation
3. Vitamin E is essential for the iron metabolism and the maintenance of nervous tissues and immune function.
4. Vitamin E is been promoted as an anti-aging vitamin, because as cells age they accumulate lipid breakdown products. Vitamin E prevents this accumulation in maintaining cell health.

Sources

Vitamin E is widely distributed in foods. It is present in high concentration in vegetable oils and in cereal grains. Wheat gum, sunflower seeds, almonds, safflower oil, eggs, butter are
good sources. Meat, fruits and vegetables contain small amounts. Sesame oil and mustard oil are good sources of Vitamin E.

 

 

Requirement :
The requirement of Vitamin E is linked to that ofessential fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acids). The requirement of Vitamin E is 0.8 mg/g of essential fatty acid.

Effects of Deficiency
Deficiency of Vitamin A is manifested as nutritional blindness and increased susceptibility to infection. Nutritional blindness is an important public health problem among young
children in India .Night blindness is an early symptom of Vitamin A
deficiency. The individual cannot see in dim light. This can be corrected with adequate supply of Vitamin A. In the absence of adequate Vitamin A intake the outer lining of the eye ball loses
its usual moist, white appearance and becomes dry and wrinkled called xerosis.
This condition is followed by raised muddy dry triangular patches on the conjunctiva called the bitots spots. Redness and inflammation of the eye and gradual loss of vision may follow. The central portion of the eye loses its transparency and becomes opaque and soft if not treated and leads to total blindness termed Xeropthalmia. Xeropthalmia encompasses all
ocular manifestations of Vitamin A deficiency. Increased susceptibility to infection occurs because the mucous membrane lining becomes dry and rough which is easily
invaded by the micro – organism.