Vitamin E function and requirements in relation to PUFA.
Vitamin E (α-tocopherol) is recognised as a key essential lipophilic antioxidant in humans protecting lipoproteins, PUFA, cellular and intra-cellular membranes from damage. The aim of this review was to evaluate the relevant published data about vitamin E requirements in relation to dietary PUFA intake. Evidence in animals and humans indicates a minimal basal requirement of 4-5 mg/d of RRR-α-tocopherol when the diet is very low in PUFA. The vitamin E requirement will increase with an increase in PUFA consumption and with the degree of unsaturation of the PUFA in the diet. The vitamin E requirement related to dietary linoleic acid, which is globally the major dietary PUFA in humans, was calculated to be 0·4-0·6 mg of RRR-α-tocopherol/g of linoleic acid. Animal studies show that for fatty acids with a higher degree of unsaturation, the vitamin E requirement increases almost linearly with the degree of unsaturation of the PUFA in the relative ratios of 0·3, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 for mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexaenoic fatty acids, respectively. Assuming a typical intake of dietary PUFA, a vitamin E requirement ranging from 12 to 20 mg of RRR-α-tocopherol/d can be calculated. A number of guidelines recommend to increase PUFA intake as they have well-established health benefits. It will be prudent to assure an adequate vitamin E intake to match the increased PUFA intake, especially as vitamin E intake is already below recommendations in many populations worldwide.
1DSM Nutritional Products,Basel CH-4002,Switzerland.
Daniel
D
Raederstorff
1DSM Nutritional Products,Basel CH-4002,Switzerland.
Adrian
A
Wyss
2Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine,University of Southampton,Southampton SO16 6YD,UK.
Philip C
PC
Calder
1DSM Nutritional Products,Basel CH-4002,Switzerland.
Peter
P
Weber
1DSM Nutritional Products,Basel CH-4002,Switzerland.
Manfred
M
Eggersdorfer
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004032:Diet; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000975:Antioxidants; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D014810:Vitamin E
  α-Tocopherol; IoM Institute of Medicine; PUFA; Recommendations; Requirements; Vitamin E