Functions
Vitamin E works as an antioxidant by inhibiting the oxidation of lipids and the production of free radicals. Unlike other vitamins, it is not a co-factor for enzymatic reactions. It shelters other fat-soluble vitamins and aids in the use of Vitamin A and Vitamin K.Other advantages of Vitamin E are:
How it works as an antioxidant:
The tocopherol-OH is able to transfer a Hydrogen with a single electron to a free radical, stopping the radical before it moves on to produce more radicals. It has the ability to locate these free radicals due to its lipophilic (fat loving) property. Tocopherol-OH then becomes tocopherol-O ( itself a radical). The tocopherol radical then react with ascorbate (ascorbic acid) to form semidehydroascorbate (weak radical) and tocopherol-OH, and thus the original tocopherol is restored.