Significance of Vitamin E in Aging

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What is the Role of Vitamin E in Aging?

"...Considering the biological function of vitamin E as an important preventive factor, for lipid peroxidation, and on the basis of existing parallelisms between some characteristics of aging and different symptoms of tocopherol deficiency, a possible influence of this vitamin on the aging process was postulated. Many authors showed that high doses of vitamin E decrease synthesis and accumulation of aging-accompanied lipofuscin pigments. Nevertheless, no reasonable additional influence of such vitamin dosage is known for the aging process, especially on the elongation of the maximal life span in mammals. While high tocopherol concentrations inhibit the aggregation of thrombocytes induced in vitro, under in vivo conditions the supposed benefit of therapeutic use of vitamin E to diminish the high platelet aggregation rate noticed in patients with cardiovascular diseases is still not confirmed. Investigations of the vitamin E status in the elderly showed that the plasma tocopherol concentration is increased age-dependent..." ( Z Gerontol 1986 May-Jun;19(3):206-14: Elmadfa I; Both-Bedenbender N; Sierakowski B; Steinhagen-Thiessen E
[Bedeutung von Vitamin E im Alter.])

  • "...Free radical damage seems likely to be significant in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, ischaemia-reperfusion injury, Parkinson's disease, cataract some cancers and rheumatoid arthritis. Evidence to suggest a protective effect from antioxidant vitamins exists for ischaemic heart disease, cataract and some cancers. Attempts to influence the outcome of other diseases such as ischaemia-reperfusion injury, Parkinson's disease and rheumatoid arthritis have so far failed to achieve positive results. Research interest in the field is increasing although hampered by methodological difficulties and the limited financial return for drug companies. In the meantime there seems no reason to discourage older people who wish to ingest extra vitamin E ..." ( Aust Fam Physician 1994 Jul;23(7):1297-301, 1305: Ward J
    Free radicals, antioxidants and preventive geriatrics.)

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