Few individuals ingest sufficient amounts of vitamin E without supplements, and even the use of those supplements does not guarantee a sufficient supply of vitamin E to the tissues that need it. These are the findings of a US study published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition". High levels of blood lipids such as cholesterol and triglycerides can keep this essential micronutrient tied up in the blood stream.
The researchers at Oregon State University examined vitamin E absorption in 41 men and women, including both younger and older adults, who obtained the nutrient by eating deuterium-labeled collard greens, so it could be tracked as it moved through the body.
The tea found that there was no significant difference in absorption based solely on age or gender. But there was a marked difference in how long vitamin E stayed in blood serum, based on higher level of lipids in the blood - a more common problem as many people age or gain weight. "The vitamin E needed to protect these tissues is stuck on the freeway, in the circulatory system. It's going round and round instead of getting to the tissues where it's needed," explained study author Maret Traber.
Using the stable isotope methodology is also more accurate and helped the researchers conclude that only 24 percent of vitamin E is absorbed into the body, instead of previous estimates of 81 percent measured by the use of radioactive vitamin E. Vitamin E in the blood stream is not completely wasted, Traber noted, but that doesn't offset the concern that not enough of this micronutrient may be reaching tissues.
Univadis
