The connection between vitamin E and cholesterol is an indirect one. Although vitamin E does not affect cholesterol levels themselves, it does assist in minimizing and helping to prevent some of the health problems cholesterol can cause. Vitamin E can also be beneficial in promoting overall good health and assisting body systems. Cholesterol control is largely a function of a healthy diet and appropriate exercise. Instead of vitamin E, there are plant sterols that are considered more effective in controlling cholesterol levels.
Vitamin E is of a family of vitamins considered very useful to support the body’s natural functions and its overall health. Unlike some other vitamins, it is not produced naturally in the body and must be obtained from particular foods or dietary supplements such as vitamin E oil or capsules. It is also among the group of anti-oxidants which can greatly slow damage to the cells of the body. Vitamin E also helps in the oxidation of vitamin A and certain fatty acids essential to the body’s health.
Some of the foods and products rich in vitamin E are nuts, sunflower and sesame seeds, corn, rice bran, and vegetable and canola oils. Natural forms of vitamin E are generally considered more potent than synthetic forms. It may be hard, however, for many people to meet the recommended daily requirements of vitamin E through food intake alone. With regard to food, Vitamin E and cholesterol do share a connection. The foods in which vitamin E are found are considered healthy, and eating healthy foods like those associated with vitamin E is a key to controlling cholesterol.
Vitamin E and cholesterol have another relationship in terms of good health. Although vitamin E does not regulate cholesterol, it can prevent the build up of cholesterol plaque in the linings of the arteries. This helps reduce the tightening of the arteries that can lead to heart attack or stroke. Vitamin E also helps stop the break down of tissues in the body, including that of the heart and lungs.
In a way, vitamin E can be considered a preventive vitamin. It supports the health of many body systems while slowing the effects of damage to the body. Among its beneficial properties, it can help prevent diseases of the heart and blood vessels and hardening of the arteries. It can also alleviate some symptoms of diseases of the brain and nervous system, such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Huntington’s chorea.
In regard to Vitamin E and cholesterol, research supports the claim that the vitamin slows down or prevents some of the adverse effects of cholesterol on the body. For those concerned about cholesterol levels, vitamin supplement guides and cholesterol information websites suggest investigating the use of plant sterols for cholesterol control. Plant sterols are naturally derived supplements than can help flush bad cholesterol from the body.