All you need to know about Vitamin E and #Evion supplements

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I am tired, tired of all the running around
sucked into the whirlpool of life.

Forcing my eyes open,
I take a step forward
My head spins, my vision blurs
I try calling out, but
the mouth goes dry
My legs shake and tremble
I falter and stumble.

Pride goes before the fall
Miles to go yet nowhere to reach!

I ache all over
Aching for an oasis
Memories of beautiful moments
Evade me.
Have they jaded with time?

I too feel jaded, wasted
I am tired .Tired of all the running around.
Let me now lie down
into an eternal sleep.
                     
Sounds familiar?
                                          
If it does, it is no laughing matter for you could be suffering from a Vitamin E deficiency .Vitamin E is a group of fat soluble  compounds that are vital to our well-being by virtue of being strong  Anti-oxidants , Immunomodulators (improve our immune response ) and by exerting an anti-platelet  adhesion (prevents blood clotting ) effect on the blood.

How can you know if you have a Vitamin E Deficiency ?

source – giphy.com

                                         
There are certain symptoms which develop gradually and are often overlooked and attributed to weakness and overwork .Look out if you feel any of these persistently .

1. Breathlessness
2. Irritability
3. Reduced Stamina for physical exertion
4. Sudden rhythmic movements of the eyeballs
5. Night Blindness or reduced vision in the dark,limitation in upward gaze
6. Loss of voluntary control of the movements of limbs causing a changed gait or in-coordination  in  movements
7.Loss of ability to sense vibrations or sense the position of the limbs
8. Dementia – a progressive inability to think in an organised manner and remember things
9. Palpitations – increased awareness and rate of heart beat
10. Infertility in both sexes

 How do you diagnose a Vitamin E Deficiency ?


A simple blood test done will clinch the diagnosis which is  is based on measuring the ratio of plasma alpha-tocopherol to total plasma lipids; a low ratio suggests vitamin E deficiency.Alternatively a low plasma alpha-tocopherol levels would also indicate a deficiency .

Who are at risk ?

Some people are more prone to developing a vitamin E deficiency than the normal population and by knowing if you or a family member is at risk you can prevent the complications from developing.

The proper absorption of vitamin E from the gastrointestinal tract needs some dietary fat  because it is a fat soluble vitamin. Individuals who have had part or all of their gut removed or/and individuals with may not absorb fat are more predisposed to a deficiency .

The most common predisposing factors are :

Reduced Fat intake and faulty cooking – People who are taking very low quantity of fat in their diets are prone to Vitamin E deficiency .Crash dieters beware !

While frying in a Vitamin E rich oil like Safflower /Sunflower or Olive Oil may increase the nutritive content of the food being fried.

Oxidation of the food during frying causes loss of vitamin E and repeated use of the same oil will further diminish the vitamin content, which will ultimately affect the net value of vitamin E from fried foods. Frying also degrades the oil by loss of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are sources of essential fatty acids in your diet.

So the best practice is to use cold compressed oils , nuts either raw or lightly cooked .

Premature Babies – Babies having birth weights less than 1500 grams, or 3.5 pounds are at risk.Breast Milk provides enough Vitamin E for normal birth weight babies but preemies may have difficulty in suckling and may need evaluation and supplementation to avoid neurological complications.

Disorders of fat metabolism – There is a rare genetic condition termed ‘Isolated Vitamin E deficiency ‘ or ‘Ataxia with isolated with vitamin E deficiency’, which is caused by mutations in the gene for the Tocopherol Transfer Protein (TTP).

Individuals with ‘Isolated Vitamin E deficiency ‘have a very poor capacity to absorb vitamin E and hence develop the neurological complications of vitamin E deficiency that are fortunately reversed by administration of  high doses of vitamin E.

If you have been diagnosed with Cystic fibrosis – Cystic Fibrosis affects the lungs and pancreas and causes the body to produce thick and sticky mucus that can clog the lungs and obstruct the pancreas. It causes recurrent respiratory infections and steatorrhoea – frothy ,sticky stools .

Persons who have  undergone  a gastric bypass or a Short Bowel Syndrome -congenital or acquired .
Other Diseases of Malabsorption – Diseases like  Crohn’s disease, liver diseases like gall stones or post-cholecystectomy (removal of Gall bladder ) or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency ( inability to digest food due to insufficient digestive enzyme secretion by pancreas ) or Abetalipoprotinemia ( a rare inherited gene mutation disorder ) can all lead to an impaired absorption of fat and consequent Vitamin E insufficiency.

BENEFITS of Vitamin E THERAPY

According to studies ,Vitamin E has had some role in preventing or altering the progress of certain diseases .

Atherosclerosis -Tocopherols help in  preventing atherosclerosis (plaque formation inside the blood vessels that can cause narrowing and high blood pressure or heart diseases) by inhibiting the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL).
Studies have shown that a high dietary intake of vitamin E is associated with high serum concentrations of alpha tocopherol and that in turn is associated with lower rates of ischemic heart disease.

Peripheral neuropathy and spinocerebellar ataxia – Patients receiving large doses of vitamin E may experience a halt in the progression of the disease. Vitamin E overdose is difficult to achieve and, thus, is extremely uncommon.

Topical Use ( application on the skin and scalp) – Vitamin E has done far more for the Beauty and Cosmetics industry than what it does for you and me !
Evion capsules have been crushed and used onto the hair and skin to make it smoother.Vitamin E is also added to moisturizers to treat or prevent dry, rough, scaly, itchy skin and minor skin irritations (e.g., diaper rash, skin burns and burns from radiation therapy).
It makes the skin softer and smoother giving a youthful appearance.Effects are temporary and being a doctor myself , I recommend taking Vitamin E orally in the  form of natural food than relying only on skin products .

HOW MUCH VITAMIN E DO YOU NEED DAILY ?

One milligram is equivalent to 1.5 international units (IU). This table below will help you in finding out your daily requirement .

Recommended Daily Allowance of Vitamin E (Alpha ā€“Tocopherol )

S.No.
Age
Male
Female
Pregnancy
Lactation
1
0-6 months
4mg ( 6 IU)
4mg ( 6 IU)
2
7-12 months
5 mg (7.5 IU)
5 mg (7.5 IU)
3
1 ā€“ 3   years
6 mg ( 9 IU)
6 mg ( 9 IU)
4
4 ā€“ 8 years
7 mg (10.4 IU)
7 mg (10.4 IU)
5
9 ā€“ 14 years
11mg (16.4 IU)
11mg (16.4 IU)
6
14 +  years
15mg(22.4 IU)
15mg(22.4 IU)
15mg(22.4 IU)
19 mg (28.4 IU)
HOW TO GET YOUR DAILY QUOTA OF VITAMIN E  ?

Foods providing 20% or more of the DV (Daily  Value ) are considered to be high sources of a nutrient, but foods providing lower percentages of the DV also contribute to a healthful diet .In this table you will get an idea of the amount of Vitamin E that your daily food will provide .

                                             

Vitamin E is found in high concentrations in nuts,Safflower oil, Sunflower seeds and oils, Dark Green leafy veg, Liver, meat, eggs etc.

Here is a list of various foods along with the percentage DV that one serving provides 

S. No.
Food  Item
mg of Vitamin E  from single serving
Percent DV
1
Wheat germ oil, 1 tablespoon
20.3
100
2
Sunflower seeds, dry roasted, 1 ounce 
7.4
37
3
Almonds, dry roasted, 1 ounce
6.8
34
4
Sunflower oil, 1 tablespoon
5.6
28
5
Safflower oil, 1 tablespoon
4.6
25
6
Hazelnuts, dry roasted, 1 ounce
4.3
22
7
Peanut butter, 2 tablespoons
2.9
15
8
Peanuts, dry roasted, 1 ounce
2.2
11
9
Corn oil, 1 tablespoon
1.9
10
10
Spinach, boiled, Ā½ cup
1.9
10
11
Broccoli, chopped, boiled, Ā½ cup
1.2
6
12
Soybean oil, 1 tablespoon
1.1
6
13
Kiwifruit, 1 medium
1.1
6
14
Mango, sliced, Ā½ cup
0.7
4
15
Tomato, raw, 1 medium
0.6
4
16
Spinach, raw, 1 cup
0.6
3
17
Hard Boiled Egg , one 50 g egg
0.87
6
HOW DO I GET MY DAILY DOSE OF VITAMIN E ?
                                                     

Avocado ,Salmon and Egg Salad – http://www.amodernrose.com
Psst !!! I let you on to my little secret .

Just toss toasted Almonds, Lettuce/ Micro greens, Bell Peppers, sliced boiled eggs ,Walnuts,sliced red onions and sliced tomatoes into a salad . I liberally drizzle it with Extra Virgin Cold pressed Olive Oil and some lemon juice. Sprinkle some seasoning and you are ready to have it .
                                                         
A cheat way of getting your daily dose of Vitamin E will be to munch on assorted nuts like Pine nuts, Almonds and Walnuts or pop a Vitamin E supplement like “Evion Supplements”on days when you are too pressed for time to make a salad or when you are travelling .

Do what works for you but make sure that you do get your daily dose of this essential Vitamin .

(Disclaimer – Even though Vitamin E or toxicity or overdose is difficult to achieve,yet indiscriminate supplementation in large doses or supplementation for long periods of time without consulting your physician can lead to undesirable side effects .)

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