Vitamin E (WBC)

OPTION A:

If Vitamin E (WBC) is low and Vitamin E (Serum) is normal/excess:

Short term, status of micro nutrients is optimal, but cellular absorption may be a problem.

Recommend interventions:

- increase dietary intake of nutrient

- increase supplementation dosage

- consider status of synergistic nutrients for cellular absorption

- consider levels of oxidative stress on nutrient depletion

- consider follow-up testing to identify the source of my absorption.

OPTION B:

If Vitamin E (WBC) is low and Vitamin E (Serum) is low as well:

Short term and long term status of micro nutrients is not optimal, suggesting low dietary intake, and both intestinal and cellular absorption as possible causes.

Recommended interventions:

- Increase dietary intake of nutrient

- Increase supplementation dosage.

- Medications may have an effect on depletion

- Consider follow up testing to identify the source of malabsorption.

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How it gets depleted:

Vitamin E may become depleted or deficient due to intestinal malabsorption. Smoking also depletes the body’s vitamin E stores.

Clinical Manifestations of Depletion:

Vitamin E deficiency may result in peripheral neuropathy, ataxia, muscle weakness, skeletal myopathy, retinopathy, and increased risk of CVD, red blood cell destruction, prostate cancer, and cataracts.

Food Sources:

Dietary sources of vitamin E include: plant seeds (such as sunflower seeds), walnuts, hazelnuts, olive oil, canola oil, wheat germ oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, tomato, avocado, spinach, and Swiss chard.

Supplement Options:

- The RDA for vitamin E is 15mg/day.
- The UL for vitamin E is set at 1000 mg/day in order to prevent interference in vitamin K clotting pathways.
- The only supplementary form of vitamin E that reverses deficiency symptoms is α-tocopherol.
- In addition, α-Lipoic acid is an important co-factor that can aid in restoring vitamin E levels when depleted.

Vitamin E is an important antioxidant that reduces the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that result from fat oxidation.

Vitamin E also regulates cell signaling, influences immune function, and inhibits coagulation.