Vitamin E was discovered in 1922 by Evans and Bishop as a compound required for reproduction of rats. Since, innumerable attempts have been undertaken to finally find out why vitamin E is an essential micronutrient in humans. Even almost 90 years after its discovery, however, the real biological role of the vitamin remains enigmatic. In 1937, the antioxidant function of vitamin E was described for the first time. This detection started a decades-long attempt to prevent or cure diseases presumed to be associated with oxidative stress, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders by vitamin E supplementation. Unfortunately, the great efforts made by several groups to provide clinical evidence for a protective efficacy of vitamin E have so far failed. Largest secondary prevention trials on cardiovascular disease and cancer remained unsuccessful, and in some cases, they were prematurely stopped due to putative adverse effects of highdose supplementation. Nor did these studies provide any novel insights to explain the two cardinal symptoms of vitamin E deficiency, female infertility and neuromuscular disorders. To fill the intriguing gaps of knowledge, already two brainstorm meetings entirely devoted to vitamin E were organized in this millennium. The first one was held in Tremsb. uttel, Germany, from July 30 to August 1, 2001, the second in Boston, May 22–24, 2004 . Both meetings focused on novel aspects of vitamin E research, such as its potential role in gene regulation and cellular signaling. Also the clinical trials undertaken to test the protective role of vitamin E in cardiovascular disease, cancer and neurological disorders were discussed. A real break-through was not achieved. To discuss the progress of the last 5 years, a satellite symposium on Vitamin E was held in Rome on August 26, 2009 prior to the annual meeting of the Society for Free Radical Research (SFRR)-Europe. The scientific program intended to learn more about the biological function of vitamin E. The breakthrough was not reached either. Again, however, some novel aspects arose which appear worth to be investigated in more detail, e.g. metabolism and metabolites of vitamin E, its transport, role in signaling, gene activity and brain function. Even topics related to plant metabolism were considered. The most interesting topics were chosen for this special issue to update the frontiers of vitamin E research.
Vitamin E: a vitamin still awaiting the detection of its biological function.
GALLI, Francesco
2010
Abstract
Vitamin E was discovered in 1922 by Evans and Bishop as a compound required for reproduction of rats. Since, innumerable attempts have been undertaken to finally find out why vitamin E is an essential micronutrient in humans. Even almost 90 years after its discovery, however, the real biological role of the vitamin remains enigmatic. In 1937, the antioxidant function of vitamin E was described for the first time. This detection started a decades-long attempt to prevent or cure diseases presumed to be associated with oxidative stress, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders by vitamin E supplementation. Unfortunately, the great efforts made by several groups to provide clinical evidence for a protective efficacy of vitamin E have so far failed. Largest secondary prevention trials on cardiovascular disease and cancer remained unsuccessful, and in some cases, they were prematurely stopped due to putative adverse effects of highdose supplementation. Nor did these studies provide any novel insights to explain the two cardinal symptoms of vitamin E deficiency, female infertility and neuromuscular disorders. To fill the intriguing gaps of knowledge, already two brainstorm meetings entirely devoted to vitamin E were organized in this millennium. The first one was held in Tremsb. uttel, Germany, from July 30 to August 1, 2001, the second in Boston, May 22–24, 2004 . Both meetings focused on novel aspects of vitamin E research, such as its potential role in gene regulation and cellular signaling. Also the clinical trials undertaken to test the protective role of vitamin E in cardiovascular disease, cancer and neurological disorders were discussed. A real break-through was not achieved. To discuss the progress of the last 5 years, a satellite symposium on Vitamin E was held in Rome on August 26, 2009 prior to the annual meeting of the Society for Free Radical Research (SFRR)-Europe. The scientific program intended to learn more about the biological function of vitamin E. The breakthrough was not reached either. Again, however, some novel aspects arose which appear worth to be investigated in more detail, e.g. metabolism and metabolites of vitamin E, its transport, role in signaling, gene activity and brain function. Even topics related to plant metabolism were considered. The most interesting topics were chosen for this special issue to update the frontiers of vitamin E research.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
