Explain the Effect of Deficiency of Vitamin E?
Fortunately, vitamin E deficiency in human is extremely rare. This may probably be due to its wide occurrence. in natural foods as highlighted above. Evidence of deficiency is however seen in individuals with chronic fat malabsorption e.g. sprue and fibrocystic disease of pancreas. Changes occurring in severe deficiency include disorders of reproduction, abnormalities of muscle, liver, bone marrow and brain function, defective embryogenesis, increased haemolysis of red blood cells, creatinuria and deposition of brownish ceroid pigment in smooth muscle. Skeletal muscle dystrophy may occur and, in certain species, is accompanied by cardiomyopathy.
Recent evidence has established that vitamin E deficiency is a cause of the impaired neuromuscular function, sometimes seen in patients with disorders that interfere with absorption or transport of the vitamin. Symptoms include poor reflexes, impaired locomotion, decreased sensation in the hands and feet, and changes in the retina.
Disorders provoked by traces of peroxidised PUFAs in the diets of animals with low vitamin E status include cardiac or skeletal myopathies, neuropathies and liver necrosis. Muscle and neurological problems are also a consequence of human vitamin E deficiency. Early diagnostic signs of deficiency include leakage of muscle enzymes such as creatine kinase and pyruvate kinase into plasma, increased levels of lipid per oxidation products in plasma and increased erythrocyte haemolysis.