Vitamin E is an essential fat-soluble vitamin that includes eight naturally occurring compounds in two classes designated as tocopherols and tocotrienols. Each of these compounds exhibits different biological activities. The commercially available synthetic forms of vitamin E are comprised of approximately an equal mixture of eight stereoisomeric forms of a-tocopherol. The most widely accepted biological function of vitamin E is related to its antioxidant properties. It protects critical cellular structures against damage from oxygen free radicals and reactive products of lipid peroxidation.
Vitamin E is an important anti-oxidant.
It acts as a free radical scavenger to prevent the byproducts of chemical-cell interaction to cause cell damage. Free radicals are likely responsible for all or most of the degenerative diseases e.g. arthritis, heart disease, cancer, senility etc. The absorption or scavenging of free radicals would protect our cells from this type of injury. Other free radical scavengers include zinc, vitamin C, and selenium. Studies have reported vitamin E to protect against some of the toxicities of ionizing radiation.