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HERO ID
1329901
Reference Type
Journal Article
Subtype
Review
Title
Vitamin E, antioxidant and nothing more
Author(s)
Traber, MG; Atkinson, J
Year
2007
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
Free Radical Biology and Medicine
ISSN:
0891-5849
EISSN:
1873-4596
Volume
43
Issue
1
Page Numbers
4-15
Language
English
PMID
17561088
DOI
10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2007.03.024
Web of Science Id
WOS:000247395000002
Abstract
All of the naturally occurring vitamin E forms, as well as those of synthetic all-rac-alpha-tocopherol, have relatively similar antioxidant properties, so why does the body prefer alpha-tocopherol as its unique form of vitamin E? We propose the hypothesis that all of the observations concerning the in vivo mechanism of action of alpha-tocopherol result from its role as a potent lipid-soluble antioxidant. The purpose of this review then is to describe the evidence for alpha-tocopherol's in vivo function and to make the claim that alpha-tocopherol's major vitamin function, if not only function, is that of a peroxyl radical scavenger. The importance of this function is to maintain the integrity of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the membranes of cells and thus maintain their bioactivity. That is to say that these bioactive lipids are important signaling molecules and that changes in their amounts, or in their loss due to oxidation, are the key cellular events that are responded to by cells. The various signaling pathways that have been described by others to be under alpha-tocopherol regulation appear rather to be dependent on the oxidative stress of the cell or tissue under question. Moreover, it seems unlikely that these pathways are specifically under the control of alpha-tocopherol given that various antioxidants other than alpha-tocopherol and various oxidative stressors can manipulate their responses. Thus, virtually all of the variation and scope of vitamin E's biological activity can be seen and understood in the light of protection of polyunsaturated fatty acids and the membrane qualities (fluidity, phase separation, and lipid domains) that polyunsaturated fatty acids bring about.
Keywords
vitamin E; antioxidant; function; oxidative stress
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