A Family Doctor's Tale - VITAMIN E DEFICIENCY

DOC I HAVE VITAMIN E DEFICIENCY

Vitamin E Deficiency is a medical condition caused by the deficiency of the human body of Vitamin E as a result of inadequate dietary intake or impaired absorption.

Vitamin E is present in all living human tissues as an important fat soluble antioxidant compound of cell metabolism.

It also help to control membrane premeabilty and stability.

It may have a role in the normal differentiation of fetal tissues.

In laboratories it has been found to increase fertilty in mice.

Vitamin E is found primarily in
1.animal sources - eggs, butter and milk.
2.vegetable sources: Vitamin E is found in fresh green and yellow vegetables and cereals.

Optimal requirements of Vitamin E are:
1.adults and children above puberty: 30 mg to 60 mg daily
Pregnant mother and elderly may need double the amount.
2.Infants and children before puberty: 0.5 mg per kgm daily
Infants can get sufficient Vitamin E in breast milk

Functions of Vitamin E:
1.Vitamin E together is essential for the formation and maintenance of intercellular substances such as connective tissue, bones and cartilage.

2.Vitamin E is involved in the skin wound healing

3.Vitamin E improves the blood circulation in the human body

It is therefore useful in the prevention of people with low immunity to illnesses.

4.Vitamin E also interacts with Vitamin C, folic acid, iron, Vitamin B12 and protein and other minerals to form the red blood cells.

Causes of Vitamin E Deficiency:
Vitamin E Deficiency occurs
1.when there is Vitamin E deficiencies due to
a.diet - lactating mothers should take more Vitamin E
b.malabsorption as in celiac syndrome, sprue or hepatitic cirrhosis

2.Severity of Vitamin E deficiency is inversely related to age.
It is more common in elderly people.

Symptoms of Vitamin E Deficiency:
1.Vitamin E Deficiency is a silent disease.
People with Vitamin E Deficiency often do not know that they have the condition.

2.Mucous membrane-mucosa of the internal organs is affected by deficiency of Vitamin E

3.Skin- hyperkeratosis and metaplasia of skin  may occur and lead to increased susceptibilty to infection.

4.Body function-weakness and fatique

Diagnosis of Vitamin E Deficiency:
1.Blood Vitamin E levels are low

Treatment of Vitamin E Deficiency:
The goal of Vitamin E Deficiency treatment is the prevention of increased fragility of red blood cells and low Vitamin E.

Therefore, prevention of Vitamin E Deficiency is as important as treatment. Vitamin E Deficiency treatment and prevention measures are:

Medications:
Vitamin E supplements
Vitamin E is given at 37.5 mg to 45 mg per day orally until the response is adequate.

There is no proof that Vitamin E is useful to prevent heart disease or help in fertilty.

Side effects are:
1.Vitamin E may enhance anticoagulant activity and cause hemorrhage in bleeding prone patients.

2.nausea

3.headache

4.poor vision

5.fatique

Prognosis of Vitamin E Deficiency:
1.good response to treatment in Vitamin E deficiciency.

2.treat underlying cause such as malabsorption to get a good response in the treatment of Vitamin E Deficiency.

Prevention of Vitamin E Deficiency:
take more diary products,cereals and vegetables.