Vitamin E Deficiency Symptoms
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, which is required by the body to keep the immune system strong, fight against bacteria and viruses, enhance brain health, protect overall heart health and to relieve pain and cramps.
A deficiency of vitamin E can cause alterations in the body functions and may have a negative effect on the health. Therefore, it is important to make vitamin E-rich food sources a part of your regular diet.
Vitamin E Deficiency Symptoms include the increase in risk of visual problems, muscular weakness or muscle pain, difficulty with coordination and walking, heart diseases, poor skin health, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Deficiency Symptoms of Vitamin E
Let’s get down to the details of deficiency symptoms of vitamin E:
Increases the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
Oxidative stress is crucial in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Being an antioxidant, vitamin E has the ability to fight against free radical attack and to slow down further deterioration.
But during insufficiency of vitamin E, the body is not able to counteract the negative reactions of free radicals and thus, they damage the brain cells.
This further leads to death of the brain cells and causes cognitive decline, forgetfulness, low concentration levels and impairment in learning and thought process.
Getting enough vitamin E increases memory retention, lowers the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and prevents further destruction. (1)
Increases the Risk of Heart Diseases
Insufficiency of vitamin E causes formation of plaques or clots in the arteries that hinder smooth blood flow. This puts a pressure on the heart and weakens it.
Such a deficiency further causes a rise in the inflammatory compounds that have a negative impact on the function as well as structure of the heart.
Many lines of evidence have revealed that eating vitamin E rich food sources is associated with lower risk of heart diseases and death due to it. (2)
Affects Fertility
Clinical studies have revealed that vitamin E fights against infertility in males. Reactive oxygen species have a negative impact on the sperm quality. Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant suppresses the production of free radicals and protects the sperm quality.
In absence of vitamin E, reactive oxygen species increase sperm DNA damage, decrease sperm motility and lower the efficacy of egg-sperm union. It further causes injury to the sperm cells and negatively affects the sperm function and quality.
Therefore, it is important to add vitamin E-rich food sources in your regular diet. (3)
Muscular Weakness
Muscle pain or weakness is an important sign of vitamin E insufficiency. Free radical attack and an increase in the inflammation can cause muscle cramps. Vitamin E combats free radicals, reduces inflammation and helps in relieving muscle pain and cramps. (4)
Poor Skin Health
Vitamin E protects the skin against the harmful effect of ultra-violet (UV) rays of the sun. If you have a vitamin E deficiency, your skin is more prone to damage.
Vitamin E Deficiency Symptoms include the increase in the risk of acne, blemishes and pigmentation. Lack of vitamin E further induces the possibility of free radical attack, which makes the skin look dull and older.
Eating vitamin E-rich foods such as nuts and oil seeds and green leafy vegetables fights signs of premature skin aging and gives you a flawless skin. (5)
May Cause High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure or hypertension may increase your chances of having heart diseases or stroke. Vitamin E enhances the production of nitric oxide, a vasodilator that helps in widening and relaxation of the arteries and ensures smooth blood flow throughout the body.
An absence of this fat-soluble vitamin may negatively affect vasodilation and raise the blood pressure. Getting adequate vitamin E may be beneficial for individuals with hypertension. (6)
Also Read: Ayurvedic Medicine for High Blood Pressure
