Vitamin Families: A, C and E

Vitamin A (or retinol or retinyl alcohol) is a key nutrient for skin health. Vitamin A induces differentiation of skin cells. Many cosmetics include retinol in skin creams although the effects of retinol is not as dramatic as its acid form called retinoic acid (Retin-A). Dosages of vitamin A required for effective skin renewal would be toxic to the remainder of the body. The acid form of vitamin A or retinoic acid (or Retin-A) is widely used as a dermatological drug for skin renewal and the treatment of acne. Accutane (cis-retinoic acid) is very similar to vitamin A and is used for the treatment of many severe types of acne.

Vitamin A starts out as beta-carotene, one of the family of more than 600 different plant pigments known as carotenoids, which also includes lutein, zeaxanthin and many others. When we consume vegetables containing beta carotene (dark green leafy types such as spinach, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, mustard and collard greens, as well as yellow-orange vegetables like carrots, cantaloupe, pumpkin, yellow squash, etc.), our bodies convert it to the various other forms of vitamin A called retinols. Some are used for skin and ligament repair, others for transporting enzymes and proteins, and some of it is used in the electrical process of vision. Beta-carotene is also one of the anti-oxidants which acts as a free-radical scavenger, helping to eliminate damaged cells within our bodies. There is evidence that this type of reaction is important in fighting certain cancers and regulating the aging process.

Lord Frederick Leighton - Eucharis, Girl with a basket of fruit

Beta Carotene is not toxic to the liver even in high doses in contrast to Vitamin A. Beta Carotene will increase the body's demands for Vitamin E. If you take 50,000 units of beta carotene per day, you will need about 1,000 units of vitamin E also.

Evidence continues to mount supporting the theory that at least two other carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, play a key role in age-related macular degeneration or ARMD which is a condition which causes decreased visual acuity and blindness in older adults.

Lycopene is the best anti-aging candidate of the carotenoids because it is the most efficient quencher of the dangerous free radical called singlet oxygen. Lycopene is regenerated after quenching singlet oxygen, so that it can detoxify many free radicals without being destroyed. Lycopene levels drop off with age even in persons who ingest high levels of plants.

The Vitamin C Family

This vitamin is important for skin repair and tissue healing. High levels in the skin help reduce free radical damage and promote collagen synthesis. Patients with peptic ulcers will heal faster on vitamin C than those without extra vitamin C.

There are at least seven distinct active forms of vitamin C. The famous two-time Nobel prize-winning biochemist, Linus Pauling, long ago argued the importance of vitamin C as an anticancer agent, even though it was not realized at the time that vitamin C existed in at least 7 different forms1. Pauling calculated that our primate ancestors ingested approximately 3 grams of vitamin C daily from plants.

One of the most important members of the vitamin C family may be a plant product called ascorbigen, a fat-soluble form of the vitamin C family which it is now known to contain2. Ascorbigen is indole-3-carbinol bound to ascorbic acid and present in brassica vegetables. The combination of dietary supplementation with both I-3-C and ascorbigen produces up to an 80-fold increase in intestinal or liver Mixed Function Oxidases that detoxify carcinogens. Other protective substances from plants, in addition to I-3-C, are now known to be most effective when they are bound to one of the forms of vitamin C. These substances which may also reduce cancer risks include pectin3, bioflavinoids4, and a form of vitamin C is called isoascorbate5.

Thus the safest course may be to supplement your body with regular vitamin C (500 mg to 1 gram daily), then obtain the other forms from fresh plants.

William Bouguereau - Le depart du bergere

The Vitamin E Family and Tocotrienols

Vitamin E family may decrease some of the harmful effects of solar radiation on the skin and is often used in conjunction with beta carotene. Vitamin E is used in lotions or creams to protect the skin or to treat burns. Some dermatologists use vitamin E lotions to treat dermatitis from poor blood flow. It is often prescribed for topical use in pregnant women to prevent stretch marks.

The vitamin E family are anti-oxidants. They act as a free radical scavengers to prevent the excessive free radical molecules from causing tissue damage. Vitamin E is the most effective scavenger of peroxyl free radicals in biological membranes. When using vitamin E, always use the natural plant mixtures containing all four of the common isomers (closely related forms of a molecule) of vitamin E which are: alpha tocopherol, beta-tocopherol, gamma tocopherol and delta tocopherol. Research is finding that the gamma isomer may be the most important and an excessive intake of only one form - the commonly sold alpha-tocopherol - can block out the beneficial actions of the gamma isomer.

Vitamin E exists as four common forms - alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. Most vitamin E that is used is the pure alpha-D-tocopherol. Research now suggests that the gamma version of vitamin E is most important and an excessive intake of the alpha vitamin E can block the positive action of the gamma isomer.

Tocotrienols

A newly described and closely related family of molecules are the tocotrienols from plants such as rice bran, palm fruit, barley, and wheat germ. These molecules will not replace the essential requirement for the vitamin E family but appear to block many of the degenerative changes of aging and are under intense investigation.

Tocotrienols, also in alpha, beta, gamma, and delta isomers, are very similar to the vitamin E molecules but have three double bonds in the side chain of the molecule. Gamma tocotrienol is the major form in nature and appears to possess the strongest health benefits.

A major function of the tocotrienols may be help counter the damaging effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays on the skin6. Diet topically applied tocotrienols selectively accumulate in skin and serve to protect it against ultraviolet damage and oxidation7. In rats it was found that UV radiation significantly reduced vitamin E concentrations after 29 minutes of UV exposure but, in skin treated with tocotrienols, the vitamin E concentrations were 7 to 30 fold higher after the radiation.

When given to patients with arterial blockages in the arteries that supply blood to the brain for 18 to 24 months at 240 mg of tocotrienols per day, there was a decrease in the arterial blockages while patients who received a placebo did not show such an effect8.

Tocotrienols in combination with vitamin E reduce the growth of breast cancer cells in culture, but vitamin E alone does not have this effect9.

Tocotrienols are present in low levels in rice bran oil and palm oil but obtaining health enhancing amounts of these tocotrienols would require consuming one cup per day of oil. Tocotrienol supplements are now available from vitamin and nutritional outlets.

Tocotrienols and Skin Health

Topically applied tocotrienols selectively accumulate in skin and serve to protect it against ultraviolet damage and oxidation10. Diet alone cannot supply adequate amounts of tocotrienols for skin protection. In rats it was found that UV radiation significantly reduced vitamin E concentrations after 29 minutes of UV exposure, but in skin treated with tocotrienols the vitamin E concentrations were 7 to 30 fold higher after the radiation.

Supplements: Alpha Lipoic Acid

Why You Must Supplement