The most mysterious of all vitamins is vitamin E. First of all, its uniqueness lies in the fact that it does not have the same molecules. It also has a wide variety of shapes. Scientists have identified eight varieties so far, calling them tocopherols. In the article, we will consider what a mixture of tocopherols is and how the vitamin affects the human body.
It is impossible to live without tocopherol
The internal organs of the human body, its systems always need protection. And therefore, the biochemical processes that are continuously taking place in the body must take place without pathological abnormalities. Vitamin E (a mixture of tocopherols) first attracted the attention of scientists as a substance that can fight free radicals by protecting fatty acids from them. This is necessary for unsaturated acids, which are too unstable and are quickly destroyed by free radicals. The whole body suffers from this.
When scientists calculated how many times free radicals attack just one cell during the day, they wereamazed. It turned out that this figure exceeded 10,000 times.
The effect of tocopherol occurs in this way:
- vitamin molecule captures radical molecule;
- gives him his own ion or electron;
- as a result, the free radical becomes a neutral substance and is excreted along with the urine.
Deficiency and benefit of vitamin
When too little vitamin E enters the body, fats can break down. And the most striking example of this is skin pigmentation in the elderly, which is almost impossible to get rid of. In fact, this is an accumulation of fat-like substances that have been oxidized from free radicals and thoroughly combined with proteins. These spots can be detected during examination in the lungs, nervous system, kidneys, and many tissues. And only if the body is saturated with tocopherol, such pathologies can be avoided.
Other effects of vitamin deficiency include:
- disorder of sexual function;
- degenerative changes in muscles, especially the heart;
- dry skin;
- appearance of body fat;
- development of neurological pathologies;
- impossibility of conception.
Natural Tocopherol Blend Benefits:
- promotes enhanced cell nutrition;
- strengthens the walls of blood vessels;
- reduces the risk of blood clots;
- promotes the resorption of previously formed blood clots;
- strengthens the heart muscle;
- protects the body from toxins.
Consumer care
So that people can not only get such a necessary vitamin, but eat quality products, a highly bioactive concentrate E-306 was developed. When consumers hear this name, they ask what is it - a concentrate of a mixture of tocopherols?
After many scientific experiments, researchers have found that the vitamin acts as an essential component that can extend the shelf life of many products, protect them from spoilage, negative changes in taste, color and smell, without harming humans.
In nature, vitamin E is presented in the form of "assorted" of 8 isomers. They were named simply and received the corresponding symbols when synthesized and used as a food additive:
- alpha-tocopherol (E-306);
- beta-tocopherol (E-307);
- gamma-tocopherol (E-308);
- delta-tocopherol (E-309);
- alpha-tocotrienol;
- beta-tocotrienol;
- delta-tocotrienol;
- gamma-tocotrienol.
Tocopherols are recognized as the main source of vitamins. They are available both as a natural and as a synthetic product. The remaining species are considered stronger antioxidants, therefore it is the "gamma" and "delta" that are used in volumes up to 80% when preparing a mixed concentrate.
To obtain a mixture of tocopherols, a whole technology based on natural substances has been developed.
Vegetable oils are used, which go through the processes of purification and vacuum steam distillation. At the same time, almost complete preservation of stereochemistry is observed, and therefore mixed types of tocopherol are also useful and have not lost their unique properties.
After the production process in compliance with all norms has come to an end, the concentrate is considered standardized and of high quality.
Food industry
Vitamin E replenishment of the body is required constantly, and it is obtained along with food, to which vitamin concentrate is added. The main raw material is soy. It is the richest source of this vitamin. Then, according to the content of the component, there are: rapeseed, corn, sunflower, cotton seeds. Vegetable oils are long recognized sources of tocopherols.
Scientists have proven the usefulness of a concentrate of a mixture of tocopherols (antioxidant), which is the most important protector that protects cell membranes. Vitamin E helps the normal absorption of fats in the digestive tract, lowers cholesterol and contributes to the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system. Therefore, the food industry uses it as an additive to many products.
On the labels in the composition of the products, the additive is marked as E-306. This index corresponds to the European standard.
If components were used for the additive:
- natural, the letter "D" is added;
- synthetic - "DL".
The color of the mixture can be from red to red-brown. It is a viscous transparent oil-based liquid. ATit is insoluble in water, but its solubility is very high in fats and many organic liquids.
Mainly used to maintain the quality of products, avoid dangerous oxidation, as well as the aggressive effects of heat and alkalis. However, E-306 has one enemy - a large amount of oxygen, sunlight. In this case, the oxidation processes are accelerated, and the tocopherol may darken. But when heated and interacting with alkalis, all positive qualities remain.
What foods contain tocopherol?
Add a biologically active mixture of tocopherols (antioxidant) to a specific set of products.
Among them:
- butter and margarine;
- vegetable oils, with the exception of olive oil and cold-pressed oils;
- fats for food use, most often in the confectionery industry;
- fish - frozen and s alted;
- meat - canned or processed;
- cookies or other cereal products;
- mayonnaise and sauces using vegetable oil;
- confectionery, including creams;
- fast foods or breakfast cereals;
- breast milk substitutes.
Due to the mild taste, E-306 is not felt in products.
In what areas is it still used?
In addition to the food industry, a mixture of tocopherols is used in the following areas:
- Tocopherol is used for medical purposes asseparately, and as part of complex treatment.
- For cosmetic purposes, E-306 is used in many face and hand products to stop the aging process of the skin, give it elasticity and freshness, and smooth out wrinkles.
- In agriculture, the additive E-306 is used for animal feed to avoid the death of young animals and maintain reproduction functions.
Necessary limitation
Even if vitamin E is considered necessary and useful, the harm of a mixture of tocopherols manifests itself when oversaturated.
The following symptoms appear:
- headache;
- symptoms similar to poisoning;
- weakness and breakdown;
- visual impairments.
An individual intolerance to this vitamin may also be revealed. Cases have been recorded when the simultaneous use of E-306 with anticoagulants caused bleeding.
But as a dietary supplement, there will be no harm from a mixture of tocopherols, since they do not have the ability to accumulate in the body, and are almost 70% excreted naturally.
Because the norms for the amount of vitamin per day were established: from 0.15 to 2 mg per kg of body weight.
A balanced diet and intake of vitamins help maintain normal he alth, reduce the risk of pathologies and increase efficiency.
