Vitamin E

(d-alpha tocopherol succinate)

Vitamin E is an anticoagulant (blood thinner) as well as a powerful antioxidant that fights the destructive effects of free radicals (unstable oxygen molecules) in the body. According to a federal survey, 30 percent of U.S. adults are vitamin E deficient, a condition that can raise heart disease and cancer risks, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vitamin E is available in two forms: d-alpha tocopherol and dl-alpha-tocopherol. D-alpha tocopherol is the natural form of vitamin E and is three to five times more potent than the synthetic form, dl-alpha tocopherol (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1997). Vitamin E has been linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease because of its ability to neutralize the oxidation of "bad" LDL cholesterol. Oxidation of LDL is a primary factor in the buildup of plaque in the blood vessels, which leads to atherosclerosis and heart attacks. Other studies link vitamin E to a lower risk of cancer, cataracts, and increased immunity. Vitamin E has also been shown to prevent exercise-induced DNA damage (Mutation Research 1995).