Vitamin E May Protect Against Oxidative Stress

Oxidation is considered to be the underlying cause of premature aging and several chronic degenerative diseases. It is for this reason that antioxidants are one of the fastest-selling segments in the natural product market. Antioxidants have natural free radical scavenging capabilities and in recent years, consumers have actively sought antioxidant supplements to combat the harmful effects of free radical activity. In fact, consumer demand for antioxidants continues to rise even as their budgets tighten.1

The Role of Antioxidants
The normal biological processes of the body produce damaging substances at the cellular level called free radicals (reactive oxygen species). These free radicals are capable of damaging the DNA in cells, thus transforming them into rogue cells that multiply abnormally and harm cells, tissues and organs. This is considered to be the genesis of degenerative diseases such as cancer, inflammatory conditions like arthritis and brain-related disorders. 2

Antioxidants in the body work to neutralize the activity of free radicals. Smoking, drinking, unhealthy eating habits, pollution and chemicals in the food we eat can cause free radical activity to rise. Consumers have understood that a good intake of antioxidants can reduce oxidative stress and hold degeneration at bay. Antioxidants are of special interest to the rapidly growing baby boomer generation who want to stay active and healthy for as long as they can and have the disposable income to spend on antioxidant products and supplements.

Vitamin E’s Role in Reducing Oxidative Stress
A new study conducted in China that was published in Nutrition Research shows that daily supplementation of Vitamin E may protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals in healthy middle-aged and elderly people.3
Vitamin E is already noted for its antioxidant potency but this study is one of the few to report the effects of Vitamin E on the fluidity of the membranes of red blood cells (erothrocytes), considered to be an indirect marker of oxidative stress. Study results showed Vitamin E was associated with improvements in the fluidity of red blood cells’ membranes and reduced red blood cell rupturing. Researchers concluded that a therapeutic dose of Vitamin E may “effectively increase erythrocyte resistance to oxidative stress and improve membrane fluidity in healthy aging subjects.”
The study included 180 participants that were between the ages of 55 to 77. The participants were divided into four groups and were administered a daily dose of 0, 100, 200, or 300 mg of dl-a-tocopheryl acetate for four months. At the end of the study, blood levels of alpha tocopherol had increased by 71, 78 and 95 respectively. Levels of malondialdehyde, a reactive compound and a marker of oxidative stress, decreased in all three vitamin E groups. Rupturing of red blood cells also decreased in the Vitamin E groups by 20 to 38 percent. Scientists believe these results are because Vitamin E resides primarily in cell membranes, where it plays a role in preventing polyunsaturated fatty acids from oxidative stress.
Chronic degenerative diseases are said to account for 75 percent of deaths in affluent western nations.4

Other Benefits of Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that protects the body against viruses and bacteria by strengthening the immune system. It is vital for the formation of red blood cells and helps the body utilize Vitamin K. Cells use Vitamin E to interact with each other and perform important functions. 5

How to Manufacture Vitamin E Supplements

Supplement business owners can easily manufacture Vitamin E supplements by partnering with a qualified supplement manufacturer that offers a variety of in-house manufacturing solutions such as label design, packaging, storage and drop shipping facilities. Supplement manufacturers with a GMP-certified facility and years of experience in the manufacturing of high-quality supplements will ensure your product meets the health needs of your customers.

Resources:

1. 2012 Antioxidant Market: Strong & Sophisticated, March 2012, Nutraceuticals World. nutraceuticalsworld.com/issues/2012-03/view_features/2012-antioxidant-market-strong-sophisticated/
2. Antioxidants, MedlinePlus, National Institutes of Health. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/antioxidants.html
3. Vitamin E supplementation protects erythrocyte membranes from oxidative stress in healthy Chinese middle-aged and elderly people, Nutrition Research, Volume 32, Issue 5, Pages 328-334, May 2012. nrjournal.com/article/S0271-5317(12)00066-8/abstract
4. Stone Agers in the Fast Lane: Chronic Degenerative Diseases in Evolutionary Perspective, April 1998 The American Journal of Medicine Volume 84, pp 739 – 749. mnstate.edu/robertsb/306/Stone%20Agers%20in%20Fasat%20Lane.pdf
5. Vitamin E, Medline, National Institutes of Health. nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002406.htm