Vitamin E is an oil soluble vitamin necessary for cellular activity and regeneration, health and beauty.
Donnerstag, 19. Juli 2012
Vitamin E content of some plant oils
Internet may be very helpful and make every thing simple. You do not need heavy, boring lexicons to search for certain information, a mouse click and you have hundreds of pages in front of you on the monitor.
Exactly because of this simplicity mistakes could be widespread at the speed of life in the virtual and non virtual life.
During the last 3-4 years, I've read many times in different articles and journals about a high content of vitamin E in olive oil without any quantitative mention of the real content. The source of this mistake is probably a typing-mistake somewhere in an article that has been repeated and widespread without any research.
This is why I decided to prepare a table with vitamin E content of those plant oils for which there is at least one reliable resource. Knowing about the vitamin E content of the plant oil could be one criterion of selecting the right oil for massage, for skin care or for soap production.
Before I disclose this table, let's have a short review about vitamin E and it's biological importance.
Vitamin E is a collective name for a group of naturally occuring molecules (4 Tocopherols and 4 Tocotrienols) from which α-Tocopherol (alfa-Tocopherol) is the best known and most biologically active form.
The nomenclature of different forms depends on the side groups (methylation) of the chain. Tocotrienols have 3 unsaturated bonds in comparison to Tocopherols.
The most important and active form for human organism is the α-Tocopherol. γ-Tocopherol which is available in high quantities in Soja oil, in Borage oil or in Maize oil has little importance and influence for human cellular activity.
It's most significant function is the anti oxidative function. It means that α-Tocopherol protects polyunsaturated fatty acids in membrane lipids, lipoproteins and depot fat from an oxidative stress (lipoperoxidation). Tocopherol is a radical scavenger, catches free radicals and is transformed to radical itself. The Tocopherol-radical is then reduced via ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to the neutral form. This is why vitamin C is so important for vitamin E activity and restorage.
Vitamin E should prevent heart diseases, certain types of cancer and Alzheimer. It should slow down the process of Aging, protect red blood cells and strengthen nerves and muscles as well as improve circulation. Its function in wound and scar healing is not yet completely approved .
Tocopherols and Tocotrienols are found in plant foods:grains, nuts, seeds and plant oils, specially in germ oils and cold pressed cooking oils of high quality.
One should mention that vitamin E is only available in crude, virgin oils. Whole vitamin E, as well as all other vitamins, phytosterols etc. are absent in refined oils.
Vitamin E's importance in skin care is mainly because of its antioxidant (radical scavenger) effect as well as its capability to bind moisture. Vitamin E has regenerative and anti-inflammatory effects and improves skin texture. Anti-aging effects are as well because of prohibition of membrane-lipid oxidation and reduction of UV damage to skin cells.
The synthetic vitamin E, α-Tocopherylacetate is an ester compound of α-Tocopherol which is chemically more stable than α-Tocophero but less biologically active.
Tocopherols are oil soluble and should be added in oil phase to a certain formulation. It is added as well in small quantities (up to 1%) to plant oils with high concentrations of PUFA to protect them form oxidation and rancidity. It is the same for its contribution in a certain formulation (oil, cream, lotion, butter). It protects the product from oxidation besides biological benefits for the consumer.
Tocopherol (α-Tocopherol) is available as a thick, clear brown fluid. The applied concentration is mentioned up to 20%. I generally recommend application ranges from 0,1-3,0%.
You can download the table with vitamin E contents by clicking here. Please note that α-Tocopherol is mentioned in a separate column than the total tocopherol amount.
You can find more information under:
Lipid Library of AOCS
Harvard School of Public Health
Swettis Beauty Blog am : Vitamin E in plant oils