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May 1, 2013

Clearing Up the Vitamin E Controversy - What is the Best Vitamin E to Take?

Vitamin E is arguably the most important antioxidant utilized by the body. It protects the body from harmful free-radical damage, and plays an important role in protecting cell membranes because it helps neutralize free radical molecules before they enter the cells.

Vitamin E assists in protecting the lungs, liver, eyes, and arteries. It is a key factor in the normal function of the immune system. Studies have also suggested that it helps lowers cholesterol. This vitamin is commonly the most misunderstood due to its characteristics and different forms. 

Many ask:

What is the best vitamin E to take?
The answer is actually a combination of several different forms of Vitamin E.
Many people view Vita. E as a single entity. However, it is actually a family of eight different compounds, whose sub-categories are named Tocopherols and Tocotrienols. Each of these two sub-categories of Vit. E is further broken down into alpha, beta, gamma, and delta forms.
The most heavily studied form of Vit. E is d-alpha tocopherol. While d-alpha tocopherol is considered the most biologically active form of Vita. E inside the body, newer studies are concluding that gamma-tocopherol has powerful antioxidant capabilities as well. Gamma-tocopherol is thought to be a perfect complement to the d-alpha form.

Studies are also suggesting that in certain systems, the other forms of Vitamin E, Tocotrienols, may be even more powerful antioxidants than the heavily studied tocopherol forms. Tocotrienols may also help reduce cholesterol levels and may have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health.

Now that we understand what exactly Vit. E is, we must now consider what types of Vit. E to look for when choosing a product. Consider Vitamin E product that has all eight forms of the vitamin in it, as each from has its own unique and beneficial properties. The thing to understand is that all eight forms work together synergistically to provide a greater overall effect than any single form by itself.

When choosing a Vitamin E product, make sure that it comes from natural sources - NEVER CHOOSE A PRODUCT THAT CONTAINS SYNTHETIC VITAMIN E IN THE FORM OF VITAMIN E ACETATE! Studies have shown that this form is actually not good for your health (if you can recall, in the last year, there was a large study broad casted all over the media which stated that "Vitamin E" may be bad for your health. What the media failed to tell consumers was that synthetic Vit. E Acetate is bad for you, not all forms of Vita. E, as this was the form used in the study.)

Finally, make sure that the majority form of Vit. E contained in the product is d-alpha tocopherol (unesterified vitamin E). The Tocotrienols should come from palm oil, as palm oil has the optimal alpha-beta-delta-gamma form ratio compared to other Tocotrienols sources.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1754452