Vitamin E is a fat soluble and stored in the liver, fatty tissues, heart, muscles, testes, uterus, blood, adrenal and pituitary glands. Vitamin E is measured in International Units (ius). With this vitamin 1 ius is the same as 1 mg .

Vitamin E is composed of compounds called tocopherols. Of the eight tocopherols. - alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta, eta, and theta- alpha-tocopherol is the most effective.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that is important in the prevention cardiovascular disease. The more vitamin E consumed the lower the rate of cardiovascular disease. In another study of 2,002 people with heart disease, it was shown that this nutrient, in a dosage of 400 and 800 ius per day, slashed the occurrence of heart attacks by 77 percent and the death rate from heart disease by 47 percent.

Vitamin E has long been recognized as an anticlotting agent, thereby reducing risk of heart attack and stroke. Studies have shown vitamin E's important role in cancer prevention and in the benefits of use during cancer treatment. Animal and human studies have concluded that the nutrient blocks the initiation of carcinogenesis and may reduce the incidence of skin, oral, stomach, colon, and breast cancer.

The most recent studies have shown vitamin E supplementation may reduce the incidence of prostate cancer, reverse diabetic neuropathy in Type II diabetics, may increase/improve insulin's effect in Type II diabetes, and significantly improve immune status in aging adults.

Natural sources of vitamin E are better than synthetic vitamin E because natural vitamin E is more available for use by the body than the synthetic form. The natural form of vitamin E is listed as d-alpha-tocopherol; the synthetic form is listed as dl-alpha-tocopherol.

Deficiency symptoms
Vitamin E deficiency may result in damage to red blood cells and destruction of nerves. Signs of deficiency may include infertility (in both men and women), menstrual problems, neuromuscular impairment, shortened red blood cell lifespan, spontaneous abortion (miscarriage), and uterine degeneration.

Factors which rob us of vitamin E
Heat, oxygen, freezing temperatures, food processing, iron, chlorine, mineral oil.

Good food sources
Vitamin E may be found in the following food sources: cold-pressed vegetable oils, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Brown rice, cornmeal, dulse, eggs, kelp, desiccated liver, milk, oatmeal, organ meats, soybeans, sweet potatoes, watercress, wheat and wheat germ are additional sources.

Precautions
If you are taking an anticoagulant medication (blood thinner), do not take more than 1,200ius of vitamin E daily. If you suffer from diabetes, rheumatic heart disease, or an overactive thyroid, do not take more than the recommended dose. If you have high blood pressure, start with a low dose, such as 200ius and increase slowly.