title: Vitamin E - Occurrence, Biosynthesis by Plants and Functions in Human Nutrition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review examines various aspects of vitamin E, both in plant metabolism and with regard to its importance for human health. Vitamin E is the collective name of a group of lipidsoluble compounds, chromanols, which are widely distributed in the plant kingdom. Their biosynthetic pathway, intracellular distribution and antioxidant function in plants are well recognized, although their other functions are also considered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analytical methods for the determination of vitamin E are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the vitamin E metabolism and its antioxidant action in humans are described. Other nonantioxidant functions of vitamin E are also presented, such as its anti-inflammatory effects, role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, as well as its protective functions against neurodegenerative and other diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology, Reymonta 19, 30-059 Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Szymańska
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Beatrycze
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nowicka
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kruk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000378:metabolism; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D024508:Tocotrienols / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D024508:Tocotrienols; D014810:Vitamin E; D024505:Tocopherols
keywords: Antioxidants; diseases; oxidative stress; reactive oxygen species; tocopherol transfer protein; tocopherols; tocotrienols; vitamin E