Page 90 - Encyclopedia of Chemical Compounds 3 Vols

ALPHA TOCOPHEROL

Interesting Facts

As a general rule, vitamins what different orientations
and minerals are equally in space. These slight dif
potent(effective)whetherthey ferences in geometric shape
come from natural sources or are responsible for slight
synthetic procedures. Vitamin differences in biological
E is an exception to that activity. Natural vitamin E
general rule. Synthetic forms consists of only one stereo
of the vitamin are generally isomer, which is very active
less potent than natural biologically. Synthetic vita
forms. The reason for this min E consists of two
fact is that natural vitamin E stereoisomers, only one of
exists in only one stereo which (the one that occurs
isomeric form. Stereo in natural vitamin E) is bio
isomers are two or more logically active. So synthetic
forms of a compound with vitamin E tends to be about
the same kind and number half as active biologically as
of atoms. But the atoms in natural vitamin E.
stereoisomers have some

COMMON USES AND POTENTIAL HAZARDS
Vitamin E deficiency disorders are rare in humans. The
vast majority of people get all the vitamin E they need in
their daily diets. Three groups of people may, however,
require vitamin E supplements. The first group consists of
individuals who are unable to absorb fat in their diets, so
that the vitamin E they ingest is immediately eliminated
from their bodies. The second group consists of a small
fraction of people who have genetic disorders that make it
impossible for them to utilize a-tocopherol. The third group
of individuals consist of premature and very young babies.
All babies are born deficient in vitamin E, but they normally
overcome that deficiency in the first few weeks of their lives.
Premature babies and some babies born at term may experi-
ence a variety of health problems as a result of vitamin E
deficiency. Lack of normal reflexes, inability to orient itself,
muscle weekness, and loss of balance are typical symptoms
of vitamin E deficiency in babies. Deficiency problems for
individuals in all three groups can be overcome by taking
supplementary vitamin E.

CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS 39