M. Feki et al., Vitamin E deficiency: pathogenic, clinical, histopathological and electrical features and principal causes, ANN MED IN, 152(6), 2001, pp. 384-391
Vitamin E is a generic term denoting eight different isomers among which al
pha -tocopherol is the most important and most active. Vitamin E metabolism
is closely linked to lipids during intestinal absorption, plasma secretion
and transport, and tissue uptake. It is a key compound involved in many ph
ysiological processes, such as neurological and immune functions. The most
common role of vitamin E is its antioxidant effect, protecting molecules an
d tissues against the deleterious effect of free radicals. Vitamin E also c
ontributes to the stabilization of biological membranes. In addition, it in
tervenes in the regulation of several enzymes and probably has impact on ge
ne expression.
Advancing knowledge about vitamin E has been achieved with high performance
liquid chromatography, making assay accessible to many laboratories, and t
he ase of deuterated derivatives to better apprehend its metabolism. Certai
n issues remain unresolved concerning the molecular basis of vitamin E's me
chanism of action and the exact nature of metabolic dysfunction leading to
the clinical manifestations of severe vitamin E deficiency.