MORE ABOUT VITAMINS: VITAMIN E
Vitamin E is very important to your immune system, but too much can reduce its effectiveness of your immune system. Along with vitamins A, BX, B5, C and the mineral selenium, vitamin E is a free radical scavenger. Free radicals are tiny killers, even smaller than viruses. Like little chain saws, they destroy cell membranes in your body, causing all sorts of damage, including cancer and damage to your immune system.
Free radicals are formed as by-products of our metabolism. We also get free radicals from the polluted air we breathe. Of course, our bodies make substances to contain free radicals. Along with enzymes called SOD (superoxide dismutase) and glutathione peroxidase, vitamin E and the other nutrients I’ve mentioned help control the free radicals. The trick is to make sure you have enough free-radical quenchers to keep the free radicals from doing excessive damage.
A deficiency of vitamin E in animals leads to low levels of antibodies, T- and B-cells, as well as to decreases in lymphatic organ size and weight. Administering vitamin E to laboratory animals boosts their immune systems’ ability to produce antibodies. The cell “eating” activity of the white blood cells is also increased by vitamin E. Some studies have shown that vitamin E may help to counteract the immunosuppressive effects of cortiosteroids (hormones that are associated with depression).
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March 10, 2010
More About Vitamins- Vitamin E
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