Introduction:

Vitamin E is a lipid soluble biological antioxidant found in the body which protects vitamin A and essential fatty acids from breaking down. It is also necessary for reproduction and is involved in red blood cell formation. It exists in 8 different forms, with Alpha-tocopherol being the most active form. Vitamin E (tocopherol) is a generic term for compounds that have a 6-chromanol ring, an isoprenoid side chain, and the biologic activity of -tocopherol. . The vitamin E group contains -, -, -, and -tocopherols, which vary in the extent to which the chromanol ring is methylated. d--Tocopherol is the only naturally occurring stereoisomer and the most potent in biologic assays

Antioxidants such a vitamin E and vitamin C protect the body form free radicals and reactive forms of oxygen which are by-products from the metabolism that damage cells. Such damages caused by free radicals lead to cancer and cardiovascular diseases. There has been much research concerning vitamin E and its carcinogenic properties and effects of reducing heard attacks, strokes and other chronic diseases, though there is a lot of controversy surrounding it’s effects.