Men wishing to regain their lost youth may look to Vitamin E, which has been shown to increase sperm count and libido and delay ageing.
Looking for something else?
Vitamin E may be shown on labels as tocopherol. It is a fat-soluble vitamin, which is stored in body fat.
Because Vitamin E is only found in oils and fats, dieters on low-fat diets are often taking in less than 10% of the RDA, itself on the low side. To avoid long term health problems, a supplement of at least 400mg per day is highly recommended. This should always be taken with food, as absorption of Vitamin E from supplements taken without food is poor.
One of the four main antioxidant nutrients, Vitamin E has the following known effects:
reduces the oxygen requirement of muscles
anti-blood clotting agent
dilates and maintains healthy blood vessels
protects polyunsaturated oils, amino acids and vitamin A
prevents thrombosis
prevents atherosclerosis
prevents thrombophlebitis
increases sperm count and libido
delays ageing
assists white blood cells to resist infection
increases HDL ("good") cholesterol
reduces LDL ("bad") cholesterol - at minimum dose of 1000mg per day
A deficiency of Vitamin E causes irritability, lethargy, apathy, lack of concentration, decreased libido and muscle weakness.
Some interesting studies into Vitamin E include:
In the late '40s, Drs W and E Shute studied 30,000 patients taking 800IU of Vitamin E per day, and found a significant reduction in their risk of heart attack. The medical establishment buried these findings for over 40 years until, in 1992, two further studies were made by Harvard School of Public Health. The first, on 87,245 women, found a reduction in risk of heart attack of 46%, the second, on 51,529 men, a reduction of 37%. In both these studies, the subjects took a minimum of 100IU of Vitamin E over a period of 2 years (Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine,V7no4.92).
Several studies show that high doses (400mg or above) can delay the onset of type 2 diabetes in individuals at risk.
A Finnish trial found that men taking Vitamin E had 31% less prostate cancer after 4 years, 41% less at 6 years.
The Linus Pauling Institute, at Oregon State University, found in January 2004 that in cereals fortified with Vitamin E, the vitamin is absorbed very efficiently. Vitamin E tablets taken with cereal are very much less effective, and when taken without food the vitamin is often not absorbed at all. The report recommends that other foods be fortified with Vitamin E, since the average intake is much lower than the RDA.
Medically, Vitamin E is used to treat intermittent claudication, thrombosis, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, menstrual problems, low fertility, skin ulcers, gangrene in diabetics, nerve, joint and muscular complaints, haemolytic anaemia (in newborns), thalassaemia, sickle cell anaemia and cystic breast disease.. It is recommended in cases of Mitochondrial Disorder at a rate of 200-400IU, 1-3 times a day. It is also applied directly to treat scar tissue, stretch marks, sunburn and other burns and scalds.
Vitamin E is more effective in combination with Selenium.
Best food sources in order of importance: wheatgerm oil, soybean oil, maize oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil, cod liver oil, roasted peanuts, crisps (potato chips)
There is no known case of toxicity due to an excess of Vitamin E.
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