Vitamin E deficiency remains one of the least visible, yet potentially dangerous, health problems. Despite its key role in the immune, nervous, and cardiovascular systems, vitamin E levels are rarely routinely monitored during routine health screenings.
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from free radical damage. It helps support immunity, reduces inflammation, promotes healthy skin and eyes, and helps prevent blood clots. However, when you are deficient, these protective mechanisms gradually weaken.
Experts from the Cleveland Clinic note that a lack of vitamin E can seriously affect the nervous system. Among the most common manifestations are muscle weakness, impaired coordination of movements, numbness in the limbs, increased fatigue and slowed reflexes. In severe cases, serious complications are possible, including impaired vision up to the development of blindness.
Also, a deficiency of this vitamin can lead to a weakened immune response, which makes the body less able to resist infections. Additional signs may include hemolytic anemia and a general decrease in endurance. Doctors emphasize that if such symptoms persist for a long time, delaying the examination can have serious consequences.
The main cause of vitamin E deficiency is often a violation of fat absorption. This can be associated with liver disease, pancreatic disease, cystic fibrosis, or chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease. In some cases, the problem occurs even without serious diagnoses - due to a long-term low-fat diet.
Newborns, especially premature babies, who receive minimal amounts of vitamin E during intrauterine development, remain a particularly vulnerable group. This risk is later reduced by breastfeeding or adapted formulas. In adulthood, nutrition remains a key risk factor: without sufficient fats, vitamin E simply cannot be absorbed.
Doctors emphasize that vitamin E deficiency may not have obvious symptoms for a long time, but at the same time gradually undermine the functioning of vital systems. That is why regular examinations and a balanced diet are critically important for maintaining health.
