Giving one single answer to the question, what is vitamin E good for, may not be possible because the vitamin E benefits range from a number of established as well as deliberated ones.
While vitamin E has already been established as an antioxidant, it has been seen to be helpful in decreasing certain markers that are linked to cancer, in slowing down a cholesterol oxidation process that increases the risk for heart diseases and in improving immune system response.
Vitamin E as an antioxidant
Free radicals are these extra particles that are by-products of essential body processes such as breathing. They are said to have harmful effects to cells in the body. Back in the early 1980, scientists discovered how these free radicals are involved in atherosclerosis. The effect of these harmful particles in increasing the risk of cancer, heart diseases, vision loss and many other chronic diseases also came to light. Along with these findings was the discovery of the effects of antioxidants including vitamin E in protecting the body from these harmful effects.
Vitamin E could be good for lowering risk of cancer
What is vitamin E good for specifically in cancer treatment or prevention? Cancer is serious health problem that cannot be predicted, cannot be prevented and cannot be treated. Its cause is also often unknown. However, some believe that cancer result from the damaging effects of free radicals. And so, hopes have been lifted as studies on whether vitamin E can prevent cancer or not have been started. Some studies have also looked into how cancer cells grow and proliferate and saw that vitamin E could inhibit one of the important processes of cancer growth.
Of the many studies, one was stopped because the participants of the trials showed an increase risk of prostate cancer. Despite that incident, many studies are still being conducted because cancer prevention is something that can save many lives and improve the quality of life.
Vitamin E could be good for heart diseases
Heart disease can be caused by genetic abnormalities and congenital malformations that cannot be prevented. But it can also be caused by many preventable factors that involve diet and lifestyle. Unhealthy diet, being overweight, sedentary lifestyle, regular alcohol consumption and smoking all increase the risk of heart problems. All of these could contribute to high blood pressure, hardening of arteries, formation of clots in the blood and eventually to a stroke, a heart attack and even death.
Vitamins E used to be very widely used to prevent these major heart problems. It was also believed that vitamin E was very effective in lowering the risk for any of these problems. However, as more studies are being conducted to prove it, more results that prove otherwise were also discovered. But that doesn’t end the use of vitamin for heart diseases. Vitamin E could still be good for decreasing the risk of developing some clots especially in women. Many more studies hope to give more proof and evidence that vitamin E is good for cancer.
Vitamin E could be good for the brain
Many diseases involving cognitive impairment were also among the subjects of studies on the health benefits of vitamin E. But what is vitamin E good for specifically in the prevention or treatment of diseases that damage Alzheimer’s disease, for example, is one of the most common disease that involves the progressive destruction of nerve cells, leading to severe memory lapse and behavioral changes. Studies have been conducted on the effect of vitamin E on slowing down the worsening of the said disease. While results are not conclusive, more studies are still underway.
Similar studies have also been conducted for diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, other forms of dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. All these lead to cognitive impairment and hopes are high that vitamin E could somehow help people suffering from these diseases since up until now, there are no known cure for these diseases.
Vitamin E for the eyes
Vision loss is one of the common problems often related to aging. It is also related to cataract and the gradual degeneration of some parts of the eyes because of aging. The causes of these diseases are still unknown but again, the antioxidant properties of vitamin E are believed to be the main factor that helps in preserving eye health and slowing down the gradual impairment of vision.
Vitamin E for the skin
Vitamin E supplements and vitamin E oils are also being marketed not only for vitamin E deficiency but also for skin conditions. For this reason, many people wonder, “What is vitamin E oil good for especially when it comes to skin care?” One of the vitamin E oil benefits is to protect the body cells from the damaging effects of free radicals is apparently helpful in keeping the skin in the best condition and free from common aging symptoms such as wrinkles and blemishes.
So knowing all these, is vitamin E good for you? Definitely! It is one of the vitamins the body needs to be able to perform its duties. It is still a very important vitamin that should be a part of the diet and that should be taken as recommended. In general, 15 milligrams of vitamin E should be taken in every day.