by Jennifer Brett, N.D.

Cite This!
Close 
Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this How Stuff Works article:

Brett, N.D., Jennifer.  "How Vitamin E Works."  11 January 2007.  HowStuffWorks.com. <http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/how-vitamin-e-works.htm>  19 July 2008.

Inside this Article

  1. Vitamin E Overview
  2. What Is Vitamin E?
  3. The Benefits of Vitamin E
  1. Foods That Contain Vitamin E
  2. Vitamin E Deficiency
  3. Vitamin E Supplements
  4. See more »
    1. See all Vitamins & Minerals articles
Food Videos
Food Videos

What Is Vitamin E?

With all the recent press vitamin E has received there has been relatively little said about the actual facts. For instance, it might surprise you to learn that vitamin E is not actually a single compound, but rather several different compounds, all with vitamin E activity. One, d-alpha-tocopherol, has the greatest activity. Other compounds with vitamin E activity are, predictably, beta-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, and delta-tocopherol.

Vitamin E was first discovered in a laboratory in 1922.
©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
Vitamin E was first discovered
 in a laboratory in 1922.

Vitamin E's existence was first hinted at in 1922. Laboratory rats fed purified diets lost their reproductive ability; male rats became sterile, and female rats reabsorbed their fetuses or delivered deformed or stillborn offspring. Adding such foods as lettuce, wheat, meat, or butter to the animals' diets, though, supplied an unknown factor that prevented these reproductive problems.

Isolated in 1936, the discoverers named it tocopherol, from the Greek meaning "to bring forth offspring." Later the substance became known as vitamin E.

Curiously, researchers noticed that deficiency symptoms varied from one species to another. In rabbits, for example, vitamin E deficiency resulted in a degenerative muscle disease.

Because these symptoms were similar to those seen in humans with muscular dystrophy, researchers hoped vitamin E could cure or prevent this crippling disease. Hopes were also high that the vitamin might help treat infertility and sterility. Since 1938, however, studies in humans have failed to confirm any of these benefits.

Scientists have been able to isolate many benefits that the proper amount of vitamin E can deliver. In the next section, we will learn about the many health advantages of eating the right dosage of vitamin E.

Vitamin E is just one of the many vitamins that are part of a healthy diet. Check out the following links to learn more:
  • Vitamin A is the vitamin found in carrots that improves eyesight. Learn more in How Vitamin A Works.
  • B vitamins come in many different varieties and have a volume of health benefits. How B Vitamins Work explains everything in detail.
  • How Vitamin C Works will show you how this vitamin can strengthen your immune system and even fight cancer.
  • Your body can make its own vitamin D if you get enough sunshine. Learn more at How Vitamin D Works.
  • Vitamin K mostly affects the body's blood supply and the rate at which blood clots. How Vitamin K Works can tell you more.
  • To learn about the many vitamins in our diet, how much you should be eating, and where to find them, go to our general Vitamins page.
  • Find the best prices on vitamin E supplements.
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.

Inside this Article

  1. Vitamin E Overview
  2. What Is Vitamin E?
  3. The Benefits of Vitamin E
  4. Foods That Contain Vitamin E
  1. Vitamin E Deficiency
  2. Vitamin E Supplements
  3. See all Vitamins & Minerals articles

Related Ad Categories

Nutrition Glossary:

  Aflatoxin   Age-appropriate Diet For Children   Alcohol And Diet   Balanced Diet   Breast Milk   Breast-feeding Mothers - Self-care   Breastfeeding   Breastfeeding Tips   Caffeine In The Diet   Calcium In Diet   Carbohydrates   Celiac Disease - Nutritional Consid...   Chloride In Diet   Cholesterol   Chromium In Diet   Cooking Utensils And Nutrition   Copper In Diet   Cow's Milk For Infants And Children   Cystic Fibrosis - Nutritional Consi...   Diabetes Diet   Diarrhea In Children - Diet   Diet - Calories   Diet - Cancer Treatment   Diet - Constipation   Diet - Liver Disease   Diet For People With Chronic Kidney...   Fast Foods   Fat   Fiber   Fluoride In Diet   Folic Acid (folate)   Food Additives   Food Guide Pyramid   Food Jags   Food Labeling   Food Poisoning Prevention   Food Safety   Genetically Engineered Foods   Heart Disease And Diet   Hyperactivity And Sugar   Inborn Errors Of Metabolism   Infant Formulas   Iodine In Diet   Iron In Diet   Irradiated Foods   Kidney Diet - Dialysis Patients   Lead - Nutritional Considerations   Magnesium In Diet   Niacin   Normal Growth And Development   Nutrition And Athletic Performance   Overcoming Breastfeeding Problems   Pantothenic Acid And Biotin   Pesticides   Phosphorus In Diet   Potassium In Diet   Protein In Diet   Riboflavin   School Lunch Programs   Selenium In Diet   Sodium In Diet   Soy   Sweeteners   Thiamine   Traveler’s Diarrhea Diet   Traveling With Children   Vegetarianism   Vitamin A   Vitamin B12   Vitamin B6   Vitamin C   Vitamin D   Vitamin E   Vitamin K   Vitamins   Vitamins In-Depth   Water In Diet   Weight Control And Diet In-Depth   Zinc In Diet