Positive Health Online

Abstract

SZYMAŃSKA and COLLEAGUES,  1. Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology, Reymonta 19, 30-059 Krakow, Poland; 2. Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland conducted a review of the published literature of Vitamin E - Occurrence, Biosynthesis by Plants and Functions in Human Nutrition.

Background

This review examines various aspects of vitamin E, both in plant metabolism and with regard to its importance for human health. Vitamin E is the collective name of a group of lipid soluble compounds, chromanols, which are widely distributed in the plant kingdom.

Methodology

Their biosynthetic pathway, intracellular distribution and antioxidant function in plants are well recognized, although their other functions are also considered.

Results

Analytical methods for the determination of vitamin E are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the vitamin E metabolism and its antioxidant action in humans are described.

Conclusion

Other non-antioxidant functions of vitamin E are also presented, such as its anti-inflammatory effects, role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, as well as its protective functions against neurodegenerative and other diseases. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

References

Szymańska R1, Nowicka B2, Kruk J2. Vitamin E - Occurrence, Biosynthesis by Plants and Functions in Human Nutrition. Mini Rev Med Chem. 17(12):1039-1052. 2017. doi: 10.2174/1389557516666160725094819.