Everyone knows that vitamins are essential for health. And their lack can provoke various disturbances in the activity of organs and systems. Vitamin E is not produced by the body on its own and comes only with food. Since it is indispensable, when it is deficient, it should be supplied in the form of alpha-tocopherol acetate. How to take and what dosage you will learn from the article.

Composition and form of release

The drug consists of alpha-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E). It also contains refined sunflower oil as an auxiliary component. This oral solution is sold as capsules or as a 30% tocopherol acetate oil solution.

The main purpose of tocopherol is to enrich the composition of the blood with oxygen, by protecting red blood cells containing hemoglobin. Vitamin E makes the blood less thick, which inhibits the development of atherosclerosis and the formation of blood clots.

Antioxidant prevents the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases: heart attack, stroke and others. In addition, the vitamin helps fight other diseases:

• reduces the development of Alzheimer's disease by 30%;
• protects the respiratory system;
• reduces the risk of developing prostate cancer;
• normalizes the functions of the reproductive system;
• has a positive effect on the endocrine system, due to which it is possible to achieve positive dynamics in the fight against asthma and diabetes;
• reduces cholesterol levels, protects healthy cells from degeneration into cancerous ones.

Tocopherol is taken if the production of hormones is impaired, there are heavy physical exertions, after chemotherapy and operations, if there is a malfunction in the pancreas, liver, bile ducts, in the treatment of diseases of the nervous system, alcoholism, during cataract therapy.

Benefits for women and men

This vitamin is especially necessary for women:

• exhibits antioxidant properties, which heals and rejuvenates the body;
• normalizes the menstrual cycle, increases libido;
• contributes to the successful conception and bearing of a child.

But it is also very important for men. Since it stimulates the production of spermatozoa, increasing the number of viable ones. If a man is deficient in tocopherol, then he has a decrease in interest in sex and sperm production.

If a woman feels a shortage, there are complaints of increased menopausal syndrome, that is, there is emotional instability with mood swings, sweating, cycle disturbance and vaginal dryness. A woman in position may experience complications of pregnancy, as it protects the fetus from negative environmental conditions.

The consequences of a lack of tocopherol, characteristic of men and women:

• muscle tissues are destroyed, their dystrophy develops;
• decreased immunity, resulting in frequent colds and other diseases.

How much vitamin E is required for all physiological processes in the body to proceed without disturbance? There are daily norms for the intake of a substance inside:

• up to 14 years - 6-12 mg;
• from 18 years old - 12 mg;
• pregnant and lactating mothers - 16 mg.

The substance must enter the body every day and in the right dosage. Otherwise there will be a deficit. Therefore, before taking the vitamin complex, carefully read the instructions for it.

Doctors usually prescribe a daily dosage of 100-300 mg. Sometimes it is increased to 1 g. The exact dosage and duration of administration are prescribed depending on the purpose:

The properties of this substance are used in cosmetology, since vitamin E:

Issue the following cosmetics with tocopherol:

• daytime face cream with a moisturizing effect;
• anti-aging emulsions, creams, serums;
• nourishing, moisturizing night cream for aging skin;
• eye creams and emulsions;
• cream for the care of the décolleté area;
• cosmetics for problem skin;
• products for the skin of the face and body with protective properties from ultraviolet radiation;
• children's caring cosmetics;
• nourishing cream for the skin of hands and nails;
• apply alpha-tocopherol acetate for hair in the form of masks.

Cosmetics with vitamin E stored in a hermetically sealed container, at room temperature, protected from sunlight, under the influence of which it is destroyed.

Cosmetics with tocopherol are not used under the following conditions:

• if there is a tendency to be allergic to this substance;
• if you are taking medicines that contain this vitamin, in order to avoid overdose;
• with diabetes.

Possible harm

Vitamin E can be harmful when overdosed. Side effects may appear. Overdose symptoms:

• flatulence;
• diarrhea;
• nausea;
• increase in pressure;
• blood clotting disorder;
• internal bleeding;
• liver enlargement;
• allergic manifestations in the form of a rash on the skin.

In the first weeks of pregnancy, it is dangerous to exceed the dosage prescribed by the doctor. Since it can cause congenital pathologies of the fetal heart.

You should be aware that while taking tocopherol and steroid or non-steroidal drugs, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, diclofenac, their effect is enhanced. Vitamin E can cause harm instead of benefit if taken with iron. The tocopherol solution incompatible with medicines for high blood pressure. In addition, vitamin E is taken with caution if there are diseases such as:

• cardiosclerosis;
• thromboembolism;
• myocardial infarction.

Everyone knows that do not smoke and often eat fatty foods because it negatively affects the functioning of the cardiovascular system. And tocopherol, according to scientists, is not able to improve the condition of such people. Therefore, you should not rely on vitamin E to help reduce the harm from eating fat and smoking, protect the stomach, liver and lungs from the effects of addictions.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble substance, another name for which is tocopherol (from Greek - “to bear offspring”). Responsible for the proper functioning of the reproductive system, slows down the aging process.

Anti-sterile vitamin has powerful antioxidant and anti-radiation properties, promotes the maturation of germ cells, activates spermatogenesis, enhances the functions of the mammary glands. It enjoys the fame of a vitamin indispensable for women's health, especially when planning a pregnancy.

But the list of beneficial effects of vitamin E on the body does not end there. Medicine knows the beneficial effects of tocopherol on the nervous system, liver, eyes, blood vessels, skin and other organs. And you can often find information that it is tocopherol that promotes conception. Is this true or another fiction of the advertising industry - now let's try to figure it out. And at the same time - to reveal other secrets of the main vitamin "youth and fertility."

How the world learned about tocopherol

Under the name "tocopherol" they usually mean 8 saturated alcohols, the most common of which is alpha-tocopherol, which also has the highest activity. Substance E, which is a fat-soluble vitamin, is relatively resistant to high temperatures, acids and alkalis. But direct sunlight, ultraviolet and chemical influences are difficult to tolerate.

For the first time, this useful substance was discussed in the scientific world in the early 20s of the twentieth century. Then, using the example of white rats, a connection was established between reproduction and vitamin E.

Scientists have found that it is enough to exclude a fat-soluble food factor from the diet of a pregnant female, and the fetus dies. Vitamin deficiency also has a detrimental effect on the health of males - the structure of the seed changes.

In 1936, scientists first obtained an extract of vitamin E from the oil of sprouted grains, and 2 years later they synthesized tocopherol. But scientific research did not stop there, and soon the world learned that the E-factor affects not only the reproductive system - its functions in a living organism are much wider.

Vitamin characteristic

Effective, a vitamin of fertility, beauty and youth - these characteristics have made the fat-soluble E-substance popular not only in medicine, but also in cosmetology. The unique properties of tocopherol did not leave indifferent chemists. As a result of long-term research, scientists came to the conclusion that in nature there are no two absolutely identical molecules of vitamin E. Each tocopherol molecule is a combination of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen, but in each case it is a unique combination that does not resemble previous versions. Until now, chemists are struggling in search of an answer to how this can be. So far to no avail.

On the other hand, science knows another uniqueness of the vitamin - being a stimulator of the reproductive system of all living things, it is responsible for the continuation of life. Thanks to such features, many call this substance a real miracle of nature.

Meanwhile, researchers still managed to create vitamin E in the laboratory. The pharmaceutical version of the substance is able to perform the same functions as a natural vitamin, but much weaker and less active. Another difference is that all synthetic vitamin E molecules are identical. Chemists have failed to repeat the trick of nature.

Varieties

Vitamin E is eight bioorganic compounds (vitamers) with related functions and properties. They form two classes of substances - tocopherols and tocotrienols. Depending on the form, the scientific name of vitamers is also determined. Each of these classes has its own unique effect on humans, although they are not separated in the composition of medical preparations. The highest activity is alpha-tocopherol, the most common form is d-alpha-tocopherol, the most active antioxidant is delta-tocopherol. In various medicines, depending on their purpose, different forms and concentrates of vitamin E are introduced, which makes it possible to maximize the biological properties of the substance.

The story about the biological role of antisterile vitamin E in the human body should probably start from the effect of the substance on cell membranes. It is from tocopherol that the state of the membranes depends, the main task of which is to pass the necessary useful substances into the cells. Nevertheless, we remember from school biology lessons: in the body, in addition to useful substances, free radicals “live”, striving to disrupt a healthy balance in the metabolic process. Figuratively speaking, in the human body there is a constant struggle between "good" cells and free radicals. And at this stage, vitamin E is the main player: its molecules help cells "fight off" from "attacks".

Red blood cells are an excellent example of this process. The task of the red blood cells is to provide the cells of the body with oxygen. But it is red blood cells that often become victims of free radicals. That is why, in case of poor health, it is important to eat any product containing a large amount of vitamin E as an “ambulance” - the body will appreciate the care almost instantly, and in the long term, vitamin supplementation will prevent anemia.

Continuing the "blood" theme, one cannot but mention the role of tocopherol in the coagulation process. E-substance prevents excessive formation of platelets, which improves blood circulation through organs and tissues, helps to avoid blood stasis, the deposition of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels. And this means - it serves as a prevention of atherosclerosis and heart failure, lowers blood pressure, strengthens blood vessels.

The functioning of the reproductive system (male and female) largely depends on the saturation of the body with vitamin E. For women, tocopherol is the normal circulation of blood in the uterus and ovaries, the production of progesterone, the correct formation of the placenta during pregnancy, the relief of PMS and menopause syndrome, the cure of fibrous formations in mammary glands. The benefit of the vitamin for men is to normalize the functioning of the gonads, increase potency, and improve sperm quality.

No wonder tocopherol is known as the "vitamin of youth" - it can slow down the aging process.

Last but not least, this is achieved by supplying cells with additional portions of oxygen and protecting against free radicals. Thanks to this ability, vitamin E plays the role of an antioxidant in the body, and also enhances the ability of the immune system.

An indispensable vitamin for the lungs. In tandem with vitamin A, it protects the respiratory system from the damaging effects of polluted air.

The beneficial properties of vitamin E for the skin are manifested in the ability to accelerate wound healing, reduce scarring after burns, and prevent the early appearance of senile pigmentation. In addition, the ability of the substance to influence the formation of collagen and elastin has been proven, which allows you to maintain connective tissues in good condition.

And at the end of the last century, scientists discovered another unique ability of vitamin E - tocopherol can slow down the development of Alzheimer's disease, which for a long time was considered untreatable. Also, through experiments, the anticancer effectiveness of vitamin E, its ability to prevent the conversion of nitrites into carcinogens, was proven.

circulation in the body

The "journey" of vitamin E in the human body begins at the stage of consumption of food rich in this useful substance. Absorption begins in the intestine. But for the normal course of the process, the presence of a certain amount of fat and bile is necessary. The fulfillment of these conditions allows the body to "pull out" about 50 percent of the vitamin eaten. The next stage is the formation of a complex of fatty acids in the body, which then penetrates into the lymph and blood. Already in the blood vessels, tocopherol combines with and in this form is transported to tissues and organs. At the next stage, freed from proteins and combined with a new "companion" - vitamin A, tocopherol takes on a new function - it participates in the process of synthesizing ubiquinone Q (responsible for transporting oxygen directly to cells). Well, the last stage of the "journey" of the vitamin by the human body is excretion. Tocopherol is able to be excreted in two forms: as a metabolite and without changing the species. Within 90 percent is excreted in the feces, 10 - in the urine.

Of all the properties of vitamin E, the most well-known is the benefits for women's health. In particular, this is the ability to increase the likelihood of conception and the successful bearing of a child. But the "talents" of tocopherol do not end there. It is able to have a beneficial effect on almost all human systems and organs. Among the most pronounced benefits are the following:

• able to slow down the aging process and the appearance of senile pigmentation;
• strengthens the immune system;
• participates in the process of hormone synthesis;
• affects circulation and blood coagulation, strengthens blood vessels, prevents atherosclerosis;
• accelerates tissue regeneration, promotes wound healing, reduces scarring on the skin;
• lowers blood pressure, blood glucose levels;
• prevents the development of cataracts;
• protects against seizures;
• contributes to the rapid development of muscles, increases endurance;
• protects the body from the effects of tobacco smoke;
• improves mental activity;
• restores liver cells;
• improves the functioning of nerve cells;
• relieves PMS and menopausal syndrome, corrects the menstrual cycle;
• promotes the production of spermatozoa;
• increases sexual desire;
• improves the quality of skin, hair, nails;
• prevents the development of depression, apathy, weakness.

And even on this, the beneficial properties of tocopherol do not end there.

Units

Vitamin E is one of the few nutrients whose units cause confusion among consumers, and sometimes even medical professionals. The fact is that three variants of the international designation are often used for tocopherol:

But they indicate not so much the dose of the drug as characterize its bioactivity. And for a unit of a substance, they take the minimum amount of a drug that can affect the body, in particular red blood cells. But recently, more and more often they resort to determining doses in mg. Meanwhile, when converting tocopherol from international units to milligrams, it is important to take into account its form - natural or synthetic.

1 mg of alpha-tocopherol is 1.49 IU of a natural or 2.22 IU of a synthetic equivalent of a substance. That is, when it comes to the fact that an adult should receive 30 IU of a vitamin per day, in terms of this need, this requirement corresponds to an indicator of 20 mg of natural tocopherol. The dose of the synthetic analogue will be higher, since the bioactivity of the pharmaceutical form of tocopherol is almost 2 times lower.

However, there is another definition of a vitamin dose. It is also called differently: daily indicator, daily value, Daily Value (DV). This unit of measurement is used to determine the saturation of foods with tocopherol.

For example, you can take the product most saturated with vitamin E - wheat germ oil. One tablespoon contains 100 units of daily value, or 20.3 mg of alpha-tocopherol. This means that this is the 100% daily requirement of vitamin E that a person needs to replenish supplies. But already in a similar portion there will be only 5.6 mg of the vitamin, or 28% of the daily value. However, food containing more than 20% of the daily requirement of tocopherol is considered to be highly saturated with the vitamin.

Therefore, when looking at tables of dosages or saturation of foods with vitamins, it is important to understand what system of determination is based on them in order to avoid incorrect calculation of the consumption rate.

Dosages and consumption rates

Being a fat-soluble vitamin, tocopherol (entering the body in excess) easily accumulates in almost all tissues and systems. The most active process of accumulation occurs in the cells of the liver, erythrocytes, pituitary gland, testicles, muscles, adipose tissue. Sometimes the sizes of such vitamin "depots" become so large that they cause disturbances in the functioning of organs and systems.

Hypervitaminosis, as well as a lack of E-substance, can cause visible and tangible disturbances in the functioning of the body. And this explains why it is important to know how to take tocopherol, when (before or after meals) and in what doses, so as not to provoke an overabundance and its attendant health troubles.

The required daily dose of a vitamin is determined based on 3 parameters. Accordingly, in many countries of the world it is customary to talk about three variants of the vitamin norm:

• recommended;
• adequate;
• upper allowable.

An adequate norm is determined individually, taking into account the state of health, lifestyle and other indicators that affect absorption.

The upper allowable rate is the highest possible dose, the intake of which does not cause an excess in the body and does not negatively affect the body.

However, all dosage indicators relate exclusively to alpha-tocopherol norms. What should be the doses of other forms of vitamin E - science is not yet known.

The recommended vitamin intake rates in tables and reference books are a generalized norm for an average healthy person. It is possible to determine the individual need for a substance only in laboratory conditions. To do this, use a common test: the blood serum is affected by hydrogen peroxide and it is calculated what the level of tocopherol in the blood should be in order to protect red blood cells from peroxide.

How is the dosage determined?

As already noted, the dosage of vitamin E can be determined by different systems. Therefore, it is important to remember that 1 IU of vitamin E is:

• alpha-tocopherol (natural form) - 0.67 mg;
• tocopherol acetate (synthetic analogue) - 1 mg.

It is also easy to distinguish a natural vitamin from its artificial “clone” by “labeling”. The natural form of a substance is indicated by the mark "d", the synthetic - "dl".

And now, having this useful knowledge, we can move on to talking about dosages. By the way, today there is no single answer for the whole world to the question: how much vitamin E should be taken? Some sources indicate the daily allowance for adults at 10-12 IU, others increase the daily dose to 30 IU.

Meanwhile, there is a formula, knowing which, it is easy to calculate your own portion of tocopherol per day. For children, this rate is determined based on the proportion: 0.5 mg per 1 kg of weight. For newborns, the dose of the substance is usually not indicated separately, since the norm of tocopherol is obtained from mother's milk. For adults: 0.3 mg times weight in kg. But this dose can be adjusted based on the special needs of the body.

Factors requiring an increase in the daily dose of vitamin:

• a diet of rich foods;
• menopause;
• multiple pregnancy;
• the threat of pregnancy;
• smoking;
• intense physical activity;
• hypovitaminosis.

Usually therapeutic portions of vitamin E are 100-400 mg of tocopherol acetate. Pregnant, lactating mothers, people after a heart attack and stroke, as well as those diagnosed with cardiosclerosis, the doses of the drug consumption are determined individually by the attending physician.

Sources of vitamins in food

The fact that vitamin E is an indispensable substance for the body is already clear, as well as the fact that it is necessary to restore its reserves regularly. Especially when you consider that almost 70% of tocopherol reserves leave the vitamin depot every day. Replenishing the "bins" is not difficult if you know which foods contain vitamin E in sufficient quantities, and lean (just don't overdo it) on healthy food.

If you ask yourself the question: “What is the most natural tocopherol in?”, then you won’t have to look for an answer for a long time. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble substance, which means that its main source is fatty foods.

The list of foods rich in tocopherol is headed by vegetable oils from wheat germ, sunflower, olives, corn, pumpkin, and is also present in cottonseed, linseed and soybean oils. But in the cream used by many daily, there is almost no tocopherol. But in order to preserve the beneficial properties of the product, for culinary purposes it is better to use it as a component of salads than the basis for frying.

Among the foods that contain vitamin E: seeds, nuts, legumes (especially peas and beans), flax, oats, liver, yolks, milk. From plant products, you should pay attention to green leafy vegetables, dandelion greens, alfalfa, raspberries, nettles, rose hips.

Deficiency in the body and its consequences

There is an opinion among physicians and nutritionists that a modern person is able to receive the necessary daily intake of vitamin E daily with food and does not need to take additional synthetic analogues. Meanwhile, it is worth mentioning: this rule works only if there is a balanced diet, a healthy lifestyle and the absence of diseases that affect the process of assimilation of food. Several categories of people are called in the "risk zone".

The first are premature babies who have not yet fully adjusted the assimilation process. Usually these are children whose weight does not exceed one and a half kilograms. The lack of tocopherol in infants threatens all sorts of retinal damage and a higher susceptibility to infectious diseases.

The second category is people with diseases that hinder the absorption of fats. In this case, the body is deficient not only in vitamin E, but also in other fat-soluble substances. Often the lack of tocopherol is accompanied by diseases of the nervous system, decreased immunity, diseases of the muscles and retina. For this category, the only way to restore the vitamin balance is to take synthetic analogues of vitamin E in a water-soluble form.

The third category is patients of gastroenterological departments in whom the process of absorption of useful substances is impaired. First of all, we mean people with a removed gallbladder, with gallstone disease, liver diseases (cirrhosis or hepatitis). The cause of vitamin imbalance is also a diseased intestine.

As for the other groups, hypovitaminosis E is extremely rare in them. And if it is diagnosed, then the cause is most often an unbalanced diet (up to starvation) and the complete exclusion of fatty foods from the diet (women who choose completely fat-free foods for weight loss are at risk).

But how to diagnose beriberi in yourself or your loved ones? What symptoms should alert?

The first and earliest sign of E-deficiency is muscular dystrophy (this also applies to the heart). As a result of this disease, muscle fibers disintegrate, die off, and calcium salts are deposited in their place.

Within the liver, necrotic processes are also launched, fatty degeneration is diagnosed, and the level of glycogen decreases.

Vitamin deficiency also affects the blood - red blood cells become less tenacious. The nervous and reproductive systems in women and men also suffer, problems with the thyroid gland begin.

External signs of vitamin E deficiency:

• inattention;
• apathy and drowsiness;
• nervousness;
• headache;
• deterioration in the quality of the skin;
• metabolic disorder (a sharp change in weight in the direction of increase or decrease).

Some researchers, referring to their own experiences, argue that tocopherol is not capable of causing overdose, and hypervitaminosis is an extremely rare phenomenon. Others, on the contrary, do not get tired of reminding how to drink tocopherol acetate correctly, so as not to harm the body.

Vitamin E really has practically no toxic properties. But if a person who has been taking tocopherol acetate for a long time has jumps in blood pressure, diarrhea, bloating and nausea, we can assume that this is an overdose of the vitamin.

Other possible side effects from an overdose:

• allergy;
• stomach bleeding;
• nausea;
• diarrhea;
• hyperemia of the liver;
• changes in blood clotting;
• in early pregnancy - the risk of having a baby with heart failure.

Contraindications to the use of tocopherol acetate:

• allergic reactions caused by hypersensitivity to the drug;
• myocardial infarction and high blood pressure;
• parallel administration of drugs to reduce the level.

Diabetics should be especially careful to drink vitamin E preparations, since it is possible that while taking tocopherol, you will have to reduce the usual dose of insulin.

Therefore, it is desirable to start a course of fortification from the minimum dose, gradually increasing it, while monitoring the state of the body. Take the drug with caution for people with cardiosclerosis and with the threat of thromboembolism.

Indications for use:

• hypovitaminosis;
• increased physical activity;
• pregnancy planning;
• infertility;
• violation of the menstrual cycle;
• risk of miscarriage;
• climacteric disorders;
• dysfunction of the male gonads;
• neurasthenia;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• liver disease;
• psoriasis, dermatosis;
• diseases of muscle tissue and joints;
• diseases accompanied by fevers, chronic diseases;
• epilepsy;
• oncological diseases, recovery after chemotherapy and operations;
• smoking and alcohol abuse;
• hypotrophy;
• elderly age.

The dosage of the drug in each specific is determined individually by the attending physician.

Taking tocopherol or food rich in vitamin, one cannot hope for maximum absorption of the substance by the body if one does not follow the rules for combining chemical elements. To do this, it is desirable, at least in general terms, to understand what the compatibility of useful substances is.

So, the simultaneous combination of vitamin E and ...:

• ... selenium - enhances the effects of both substances;
• ... iron - does not cause oxidation if Fe is divalent, in other cases the vitamin is destroyed;
• ... potassium - digestibility and synthesis of K are disturbed;
• - accelerates the absorption of A-substance;
• - the protective properties of tocopherol are enhanced;
• ...insulin - reduces the body's need for additional hormone administration (for insulin-dependent diabetics);
• ... non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids - enhances the effect of the latter;
• ... drugs that thin the blood - can cause bleeding (if the doses of the vitamin are high);
• ... during chemotherapy, radiation treatment - reduces the effectiveness of therapy.

Tocopherol deficiency reduces the amount of magnesium in the body, and zinc intake aggravates E-hypovitaminosis (if one already exists).

Tocopherol capsules or tablets should not be taken on an empty stomach. First you should eat a product containing fats, and after 30 minutes take a vitamin.

And the last: an absolutely incompatible combination is vitamin E and alcohol. Alcohol completely neutralizes the beneficial properties of tocopherol.

Analogues of natural vitamin E

Modern pharmacology offers 2 types of preparations containing vitamin E:

• with a synthetic analogue;
• bioactive additives with natural tocopherol (extracts, extracts, tinctures from vegetable and animal raw materials).

There are also multicomponent and monocomponent fortified preparations. The composition of the first is a combination of different vitamins and useful ones, the second contains only one active ingredient - vitamin E.

In bioadditives

The dosage of tocopherol in dietary supplements is much lower than in drugs intended for treatment, so dietary supplements are often used as a means of prevention. Instructions for use will explain when it is better to take the drug and in what doses. It is important to remember that the presence of the active substance in different names is not the same.

Today, preparations with E-substance are available in tablets, dragees, capsules, in liquid form (oil solution, in drops, in ampoules). The release form determines the method of application of the drug: inside or outside. However, the most popular options among consumers are tablets, capsules and vitamin in oil.

The advantage of capsules is that they are a ready-made combination of fat and tocopherol - the combination necessary for assimilation. The second plus of this form is that there is no need to eat fatty foods before or after eating.

Tocopherol in oil is used as follows: drop the required dose of the substance on a piece of black bread and eat it. How many drops to drink per day - indicated in the instructions for use. However, this form in some may cause side effects in the form of nausea or even vomiting.

After taking a vitamin in the form of powders or tablets, you need a light snack with the presence of vegetable oil (for example, salad).

Liquid vitamin in oil is a solution of tocopherol with a concentration of up to 98 percent. This form is used in injections (intravenous and intramuscular) or as an external medicine. The solution gained particular popularity in cosmetology as a panacea for the skin, a remedy for hair growth, and a healing substance for nails. Often this form is the active ingredient in cosmetics.

How to maximize the vitamin in food

Nutritionists do not tire of repeating that no synthetic analogue is able to fully replace the beneficial effects of natural vitamins on the body. But not everything is so simple. It is not enough to learn a list of foods with the most tocopherol and take them every day. The main thing in storing natural vitamin E is properly cooked food. And for this, it is important to know where and how to store E-containing products, how to cook in order to preserve the maximum portion of the useful substance.

Tocopherol belongs to substances sensitive to heat treatment, direct sunlight and exposure to air. To preserve nutrients in vegetable oils, they should not be heated, but added cold to salads. It is also important not to store containers with oils in direct sunlight (on a windowsill, table), in open containers. And freezing and preservation kill up to half of the vitamin content in foods. Vegetables, fruits, salads rich in tocopherol should be eaten immediately after cutting.

Pharmaceutical preparations containing an E-substance should be stored in a closed container, protected from sunlight.

Vitamin Blend Recipe

No desire to make up for the lack of vitamin E with pharmaceutical preparations? Then you can use a natural vitamin mixture as a medicine. Enough 1-2 tablespoons of delicious walnut-berry mix per day - and you can forget about hypovitaminosis.

Ingredients:

• (collect after a light frost) - 1kg;
• walnut - 250 g;
• hazelnut - 250 g;
• natural honey - 500 g.

Grind everything, mix thoroughly with honey and store in the refrigerator.

Vitamin E and...

• …period.

A regular menstrual cycle is one of the important indicators of a healthy female body. Not only pregnancy can cause a delay in menstruation. Unbalanced nutrition, stress, hormonal disruptions, diseases are often the cause of failure. And to normalize the menstrual cycle in gynecology, preparations based on vitamin E are actively used, which can improve the general condition of the female body and establish the necessary processes in the reproductive system. For therapeutic therapy, tocopherol is used in tablets or injections, the dosage is usually determined by the doctor. Meanwhile, the most common treatment program for delayed menstruation is, starting from the 16th day of the cycle, take 0.4 g of tocopherol every morning. What gives in this case vitamin E? Promotes faster growth of the endometrium to the size required for the onset of menstruation. But it is necessary to take the drug only after ovulation has passed.

• ... planning pregnancy.

The presence of tocopherol in the doses necessary for the female body is an important component for conceiving and successfully bearing a child, since it has a beneficial effect on the reproductive system. It is advisable to start taking the vitamin even at the stage of pregnancy planning, so that the body has time to get stronger and restore the vitamin "depot". This step will prevent miscarriages, fetal fading and other complications.

At the stage of pregnancy planning, tocopherol:

• normalizes the production of progesterone (necessary for the maturation of the egg and the development of the fetus hormone);
• strengthens the immune system;
• regulates blood pressure;
• improves skin condition, prevents stretch marks;
• corrects the growth of the uterus;
• contributes to the normal formation of the placenta;
• enhances the body's endurance.

At this stage, the generally accepted recommended dose of vitamin E is up to 400 IU daily (adjusted individually). Vitamin from a pharmacy is taken twice a day. In addition, it is important to remember what natural tocopherol is in and include these foods in your daily diet.

• …pregnancy.

For pregnant women, it is important to realize two things about vitamin E. The first - without tocopherol, women in the position - nothing, especially in the first (prevents miscarriage) and third (prevents swelling) trimester. Secondly, only a personal doctor can determine the correct doses. You should not experiment with dietary supplements, because the consequences of an overdose or hypovitaminosis will primarily affect the health of the child.

Taking an adequate dose of the drug regulates the hormonal background, reduces toxicosis, weakness, swelling, convulsions, and also has a positive effect on the tissues of the uterus and placental cells.

• ... climax.

With age, the reproductive functions of the female body fade, the hormonal background changes, which often causes a deterioration in well-being and mood. During this period, the female body requires special attention. And not the last role in the weakening of the climacteric syndrome is played by tocopherol, which is often prescribed by gynecologists to their patients. Modern pharmacology offers women after 45 different multivitamin complexes, and speaking of natural sources of the vitamin, it is important to include vegetable oils and nuts in the diet. But it is better to entrust the determination of the required daily norm of tocopherol to an experienced doctor and not to experiment on your own body.

• …breast.

Tocopherol is also indispensable for the breast - it contributes to the normal functioning of the mammary glands. From the point of view of cosmetology, oils with vitamin E can strengthen the skin, make the breast more elastic, and protect against stretch marks during lactation. In gynecology and mammology, tocopherol is known as an effective remedy in the treatment of mastopathy and other diseases of the mammary glands. A complex of vitamins A and E has proven itself especially well in this regard. But take tocopherol acetate very carefully and only as directed by a doctor during breastfeeding in order to avoid hypervitaminosis in a child. During this period, it is ideal if a nursing mother receives vitamin E exclusively from natural food sources.

But not only women's vitamin ...

Quite often you can hear that vitamin E is an exclusively “female” drug that is responsible for the health of the weaker sex. However, tocopherol is equally useful and necessary for both women and men. So, why is it necessary and why is an anti-sterile vitamin prescribed to men?

In addition to the well-known positive effect on the human body, tocopherol is simply indispensable for the stronger sex, if only because:

• regulates hormonal levels and protects testosterone from destruction;
• increases the bioactivity of spermatozoa;
• improves blood supply to the genitals;
• enhances fertility;
• prevents the development of infertility.

Tocopherol deficiency negatively affects not only the reproductive system, but also increases the risk of diseases of the muscles, heart and blood vessels, and leads to a slowdown in metabolism.

It has been established that the minimum daily requirement of men for vitamin E is approximately 10 mg, for therapeutic purposes (for example, with prostatitis), it is permissible to increase the daily dose to the upper permissible limit - 300 mg.

But even this is not all the effects of vitamin E on the male body. Recent experiments have confirmed: tocopherol affects the muscle activity of bodybuilders and the process of protein metabolism. And this means that it can be safely used in bodybuilding, as a means of reducing fatigue and preventing muscle atrophy. Lack of vitamin causes weakness and hypotension in bodybuilders, reduces the level of potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and creatine.

Probably, if someone decided to hold a competition for the most important vitamin for beauty, the Grand Prix would undoubtedly go to tocopherol. It is difficult to find another substance so useful for skin, hair, nails. But these are general phrases. Let's try to understand in more detail what tocopherol is useful for and how to use it in order to maintain freshness and youth for a long time.

For skin

Any changes in the body - positive or negative - immediately affect the skin. Irritation, acne, dryness, cracks, peeling, early wrinkles… Have you found at least one of the listed problems? It is possible that the problem lies in the lack of tocopherol.

It is known that under prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the skin dries up and loses its plasticity. And now add to this the influence of hard water from the city water supply, the influence of wind and frost, household chemicals ...

But vitamin E will help restore its former beauty, softness and elasticity. By enriching the epidermis with oxygen, it will not only help get rid of wrinkles, stretch marks and pallor, but also accelerate the healing of wounds, cracks, being a strong antioxidant, slow down the aging process and eliminate inflammation on the skin.

Due to these properties, tocopherol is incorporated into most gels and body lotions, foot, hand and nail creams. Vitamin-fortified products are easy to prepare at home. The easiest way is to replace creams with cosmetic oil from, for example, wheat germ. The second way is to add a couple of drops of an oil solution of vitamin E to an already prepared product. The most effective is to prepare cosmetics with your own hands, taking into account the characteristics of your own skin.

DIY body cream

Take as ingredients:

• half a teaspoon of glycerin;
• 1 tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers;
• 1 teaspoon of castor and camphor oil;
• 10 drops of vitamin E.

Cooking method

Pour boiling water over chamomile, let it brew (you can overnight) and strain. After mixing all the oil ingredients, add together with glycerin to the herbal infusion. Gently knead the mixture, the consistency of which should resemble a thin cream. Store the finished product in the refrigerator for no longer than 5 days. Apply to soften and eliminate the roughness of the epidermis.

Stretch marks (abdomen, chest, thighs)

Ingredients:

• olive oil - 1 tablespoon;
• vitamin E - 650 mg (30% oil solution).

Mix the ingredients thoroughly. Apply during massage to problem areas. To enhance the effect, use in the morning and evening.

For face

Vitamin E for facial skin creates a rejuvenating and tightening effect. Thousands of women all over the world are convinced that there is nothing better for the skin around the eyes than vitamin E oil applied with light massage movements. Tocopherol is an "ambulance" for the eyelids. Just a few procedures are enough to get rid of wrinkles under the eyes. For lips, vitamin E in oil is necessary in cold seasons - it removes signs of chapping, quickly heals cracks. Teenagers use tocopherol as a remedy for acne. Do you dream of lush, long and thick eyelashes? Then again, you just need to stock up on vitamin E. For eyelashes, tocopherol can be used according to the mascara principle: apply with a brush along the entire length and do not rinse for several hours. Already in a month, the result will be appreciated not only by you.

And, of course, we must not forget about vitamin face masks, which are easy to prepare at home in a couple of minutes, and the result of the course of procedures will please for years.

A mask of vitamin E, sea buckthorn and taken in equal parts can rejuvenate the face. Exfoliate dead cells of the epidermis - a mixture of honey, tocopherol and egg white. A face mask of sour cream, lemon juice, honey and an oil solution of vitamin will tighten the face. A remedy made from yolk, honey, milk with the addition of vitamin will heal the flaws after acne. Tones - grated cucumber "filled" with 15 drops of tocopherol acetate. A mask of healing aloe juice, fatty sour cream and vitamin E will help moisturize the skin of the face. A mixture of cottage cheese, olive oil and a few drops of vitamin will serve as excellent nutrition. A vitamin scrub mask is also easy to make: mix Hercules with honey, yogurt, olive oil and tocopherol solution.

These are just examples of possible options for vitamin masks. If desired, you can mix other healthy foods by “seasoning” them with a small portion of vitamin E.

For hair

Knowing about the regenerating and strengthening abilities of vitamin E, it would be strange not to use this substance in hair products. Accelerating metabolic processes in the cells of the scalp, it is an excellent medicine for hair loss, gives the hair a healthy shine, accelerates their growth, eliminates brittleness and dullness. To strengthen the follicles, oils from jojoba, sprouted wheat, burdock, as well as a solution of tocopherol acetate are suitable.

Ready-made cosmetics with the addition of vitamin E or a home-made mask will help you grow lush hair more quickly.

Recipe 1

Mix 1 tablespoon of vitamin E, burdock, olive and almond oil. Rub into the scalp, warm with a towel and leave for several hours. As an intensive therapy, apply twice a week.

Recipe 2

Take a teaspoon of vitamin E and a tablespoon of jojoba and burdock oils. Warm up a little and apply to the entire length of the hair. Keep for at least an hour. Wash off with shampoo. Repeat several times a week for a month.

Vitamin E is a real storehouse of nutrients. But, as is the case with any useful element, it is better to take care that the body receives sufficient doses of tocopherol from natural - tasty and healthy sources, and not seek salvation in the pharmaceutical industry.