The main symptom of vitamin D deficiency in children is rickets and in adults is osteomalacia . Rickets is characterized improper mineralization during the development of the bones resulting in soft bones. Osteomalacia is characterized by demineralization of previously formed bone leading to increased softness and susceptibility to fracture. Vitamin E Vitamin E is a mixture of several related compounds known as tocopherols . The a -tocopherol molecule is the most potent of the tocopherols.
Vitamin E is absorbed from the intestines packaged in chylomicrons.
It is delivered to the tissues via chylomicron transport and then to the liver through chylomicron remnant uptake. The liver can export vitamin E in VLDLs. Due to its lipophilic nature, vitamin E accumulates in cellular membranes, fat deposits and other circulating lipoproteins. The major site of vitamin E storage is in adipose tissue. The major function of vitamin E is to act as a natural antioxidant by scavenging free radicals and molecular oxygen.