Vitamin E (tocopherols)
Vitamin E is fat-soluble vitamin.
Tocopherols which occur in the nature are synthesized only by plants. There, as well as in the animal organism, they act as a protection system against the accumulation of reactive oxygen and thus in particular prevent peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in membrane lipids.
In the absence of vitamin E in humans as a result of radicals accumulation and lipid peroxidation, various deficiency symptoms occur, affecting membrane function, muscle metabolism and nervous system.
Studies on elderly people (> 80 years) showed no increased need for tocopherols in comparison to young adults. In digestion and absorption disorders, tocopherol bioavailability is reduced and the needs are increasing.
Estimated values for the appropriate intake
Age | Tocopferol mg-equivalent1, 2/day | |
m | ž | |
Infants | ||
0 to less than 4 months | 3 | 3 |
4 to less than 12 months | 4 | 4 |
Children | ||
1 to less than 4 years | 6 | 5 |
4 to less than 7 years | 8 | 8 |
7 to less than 10 years | 10 | 9 |
10 to less than 13 years | 13 | 11 |
13 to less than 15 years | 14 | 12 |
Adolescent and adults |
||
15 to less than 19 years | 15 | 12 |
19 to less than 25 years | 15 | 12 |
25 to less than 51 years | 14 | 12 |
51 to less than 65 years | 13 | 12 |
65 years and older | 12 | 11 |
Pregnant women |
13 | |
Nursing mothers3 | 17 | |
11 mg of RRR-α-tocopherol-equivalent = 1 mg of RRR-α-tocopherol = 1.49 IU; 1 IU = 0.67 mg of RRR-α-tocopherol = 1 mg all-rac-α-Tocopherylacetat 21 mg of RRR-α-tocopherol (D-α-tocopherol) - equivalent = 1.1 mg of RRR-α-tocopherylacetat (D-α-tocopherylacetat) = 2 mg of RRR-β-tocopherol (D-β-tocopherol) = 4 mg of RRR-γ-tocopherol (D-γ-tocopherol) = 100 mg of RRR-δ-tocopherol (D-δ-tocopherol) = 3.3 mg of RRR-α-tocotrienol (D-α-tocotrienol) = 1.49 mg of total rac-α-tocopherylacetat (D, L-α-tocopherylacetat). 3Approximately 260 µg of added RRR-α-tocopherol equivalents per 100 g of secreted milk. |
The data in our database
- vitamin E (active) from the Slovenian database of meat and meat products;
- α-tocopherol from the European database;
- α-tocopherol from the American database;
- wheat germ oil,
- sunflower oil,
- corn germ oil and
- rapeseed oil;
- wheat germ oil;
- corn germ oil and,
- soybean oil;
- soybean oil.