Vitamin E

Vitamin E is the human body's most vital fat-soluble antioxant. With numerous studies showing that it can boost the immune system, reduce age related changes, prevent heart disease, reduce respiratory problems, and increase resistant to infections, Vitamin E may be one of the most powerful antioxidants available in today's world. In the human body, free radicals attack unsaturated fatty acids in the cell membrane through a process known as lipid peroxidation, which if left untreated, can damage cell functions. Thankfully, vitamin E aids in protecting fats in the body from the damaging effects of free radicals by being the body's first line of defense against the lipid peroxidation process. Additionally, vitamin E is beneficial to eye health and can prevent the cumulative effect of the sun's ultraviolet radiation on the eyes. The sun's ultraviolet radiation can often cause oxidative damage in the lens of the eyes, which vitamin E can aid in reducing. In fact, research has found that optimal levels of vitamin E can prevent and slow cataract formation. In a study conducted by the National Epidemiology Program at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center showed that women who supplemented their diets with Vitamin E for ten years or more showed less cataract progression at their five year follow up exam. Vitamin E has also been proved beneficial in other health areas. In a trial sponsored by the National Eye Insitute, known as the "AREDS" trial, it was found that individuals at a high risk of potentially developing AMD (advanced stages of age related macular degeneration), lowered their risk by approximately twenty-five percent after taking a multi-vitamin which contained vitamin E.