Like Vitamin C, Vitamin E is involved in numerous aspects of the body's health. Among its functions, Vitamin E assists in the maintenance of a healthy blood vascular system. Vitamin E blocks the oxidation of LDL (the bad cholesterol), preventing it from forming plaque on artery walls, thus reducing the chance of heart attack and stroke, and improving circulation. It also has a strong positive effect on the immune system.

Unlike Vitamin C, Vitamin E is fat soluble, and is therefore an effective antioxidant among the body's lipids, preventing them from oxidizing and becoming rancid. In addition, Vitamin E is most effective in neutralizing polyunsaturated fatty-acid radicals.

In the section on aging we saw that the action of sun on the skin can bring about skin damage. It does this by causing the formation of free radicals, which in turn eat away at the cells and tissues. This damage often manifests itself in the form of wrinkles and age spots.

Because Vitamin E is so effective in this area, it is often found as a component in lotions, creams, and other skin care products.

Through its traditionally recognized functions, and most importantly through its action as an antioxidant, Vitamin E is invaluable to the body's health, and as an agent in the war on aging.