Vitamin E status of 20- to 59-year-old adults living in the Seoul metropolitan area of South Korea

Survey of tocopherol and the associated genetic loci in wheat grain

KEY MESSAGE

Survey of tocopherol and identification of genetic loci in wheat grain: toward a better understanding for breeding tocopherol cultivars. Tocopherol is essential in maintaining human sex hormone as well as antioxidation and immune functions. In this study, the contents of α-, γ- and δ-tocopherol in a Chinese wheat mini-core collection were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography. The effects of various factors such as accession types, winter/spring types and grain colors on tocopherol content were analyzed, and the genetic loci for tocopherol were identified with genome-wide association analysis and linkage analysis. There was no significant difference in total tocopherol in grain of wheat grown in three environments. Seven high-tocopherol (≥ 110 μg/g) germplasms were selected. The genotypic and environmental effects on total tocopherol and its three components ranked G > G × E > E and the tocopherol content were not correlated with accession types, spring/winter variety, red/white grain and release years. Among the eleven agronomic and four grain traits, α-tocopherol was positively correlated with grain thickness, γ-tocopherol was positively correlated with heading date, maturity date and flag leaf length, and γ-, δ- and total tocopherol were negatively correlated with the number of kernels in the middle of the spike. The total tocopherol showed positive correlation with lycopene and lutein. A total of twenty-seven QTL associated with tocopherol were identified with genome-wide association analysis, with obvious additive effects. The fine mapping of Qδ.toc.6 A narrowed functional region down to a 5.26-Mb region via analyzing the tocopherol content among genotypes in secondary mapping population. We proposed five candidate genes with known pathways for tocopherol synthesis in wheat, potentially useful in breeding high-tocopherol wheat varieties.

Vitamin E in Plants: Biosynthesis Pathways, Biofortification Strategies, and Regulatory Dynamics

Vitamin E, mainly encompassing tocopherols and tocotrienols, is an essential antioxidant synthesized in the photosynthetic tissues of plants and photosynthetic bacteria, as well as in certain algae, yet dietary intake often falls short of recommended levels. Although synthetic supplements are available, natural vitamin E demonstrates higher bioavailability, creating a need for biofortification strategies to enrich crops with this nutrient. Recent advances in molecular genetics have elucidated key components of the vitamin E biosynthesis pathway, uncovering complex regulatory mechanisms and expanding opportunities for genetic enhancement. This review integrates current advances in vitamin E biosynthesis, novel gene discovery, diverse biofortification strategies, and insights into transporter-mediated regulation to enhance tocopherol and tocotrienol levels in staple crops. By aligning these advances, this review provides a framework to drive innovative biofortification efforts, positioning vitamin E enrichment as a sustainable solution for improved human and animal health.

α-Tocopherol and γ-tocopherol decrease inflammatory response and insulin resistance during the interaction of adipocytes and macrophages

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The infiltration of macrophages into adipose tissue mediates chronic inflammation that is associated with insulin resistance in obesity. Although vitamin E is beneficial against insulin resistance, its impact on adipose tissue inflammation has not been elucidated. This study aims to investigate the effects of α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol, major vitamin E isoforms, on the interaction between macrophages and adipocytes with regard to obesity-induced inflammation and insulin resistance.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Hypertrophied 3T3-L1 adipocytes were cocultured with RAW 264.7 macrophages and treated with α-tocopherol or γ-tocopherol at 12.5, 25, and 50 µM. The inflammatory cytokines (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6) and free fatty acid (FFA) release were measured by assay kits, and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and c-Jun NH2 terminal kinase (JNK) signals were evaluated by immunoblotting. Glucose uptake was measured with a fluorescent glucose derivative.

RESULTS

Treatment with α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol restrained the coculture-induced increase in cytokines and FFA release. γ-Tocopherol exhibited greater suppression of inflammatory cytokines at 12.5 and 25 µM (P < 0.001). Both tocopherols inhibited NF-κB activation by limiting translocation of NF-κB (p65) to the nucleus, with γ-tocopherol showing a stronger effect compared to α-tocopherol. α-Tocopherol inhibited JNK phosphorylation at 50 μM, whereas γ-tocopherol did not. Furthermore, coculture with macrophages impaired glucose uptake in response to insulin, but both tocopherols restored insulin responsiveness (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

α-Tocopherol and γ-tocopherol effectively mitigate inflammation induced by adipocyte-macrophage interaction, thereby ameliorating coculture-induced insulin resistance. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of tocopherols in managing obesity-related metabolic dysfunction.

Age and Sex Differences in the Association between Serum Vitamin E Levels and Depressive Symptoms: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Studies have reported inconsistent results regarding the relationship between serum vitamin E levels and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the potential modulating role of age and sex has been underexplored. We conduct an age- and sex-stratified investigation of the association between serological vitamin E status and depressive symptoms in a large nationwide sample. Data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed (n = 4448). The participants were stratified into four groups according to age (<65 vs. ≥65 years) and sex. Each group was divided into tertiles of vitamin E/total lipid ratio, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores were compared among the tertiles via multivariable linear regression analyses. The relationship between dietary supplement use and the proportions of tertiles was assessed in each group. With the middle tertile as the reference group, the low tertile of vitamin E/total lipid ratio was associated with increased PHQ-9 scores in younger females and older males after adjusting for all covariates, while the high tertile showed no significant associations with PHQ-9 scores in any group. The low tertile was associated with increased adjusted mean PHQ-9 scores by 0.53 and 1.02 compared to the middle tertile in younger females and older males, respectively. Dietary supplement use was related to higher vitamin E/total lipid ratio in all four groups. In conclusion, younger females and older males with a low vitamin E status showed worse depressive symptoms. These individuals may benefit from dietary interventions to prevent depressive symptoms.

Vitamin E Intake and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Vitamin E is a group of antioxidative tocopherols and tocotrienols that play a potential role in chemoprevention. Studies investigating the association between vitamin E and prostate cancer risk have been conflicting. We identified observational and interventional studies examining the association between vitamin E intake and prostate cancer risk from PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library. A random-effects model was used to perform a meta-analysis and estimate relative risks (RRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of prostate cancer risk according to vitamin E intake. Subgroup analyses were conducted by study design, sample size, study population characteristics, geographical region, and dose of vitamin E intake. The association between dietary (RR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.92-1.02) and supplemental (RR = 0.99; 95% CI = 0.94-1.04) vitamin E intake on prostate cancer risk was non-significant. In subgroup analyses, supplemental vitamin E was significantly associated with reduced prostate cancer risk in studies in Europe (RR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.69-0.97). Overall, this meta-analysis demonstrates little evidence for a beneficial effect of vitamin E intake on prostate cancer risk but suggests that there may be some conditions in which supplements could confer a protective effect on prostate cancer risk.

Fat-Soluble Vitamers: Parent-Child Concordance and Population Epidemiology in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children

Fat-soluble vitamers (FSV) are a class of diverse organic substances important in a wide range of biological processes, including immune function, vision, bone health, and coagulation. Profiling FSV in parents and children enables insights into gene-environment contributions to their circulating levels, but no studies have reported on the population epidemiology of FSV in these groups as of yet. In this study, we report distributions of FSV, their parent-child concordance and variation by key characteristics for 2490 children (aged 11-12 years) and adults (aged 28-71 years) in the Child Health CheckPoint of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Ten A, D, E and K vitamers were quantified using a novel automated LC-MS/MS method. All three K vitamers (i.e., K1, MK-4, MK-7) and 1-α-25(OH)₂D₃ were below the instrument detection limit and were removed from the present analysis. We observed a strong vitamer-specific parent-child concordance for the six quantifiable A, D and E FSVs. FSV concentrations all varied by age, BMI, and sex. We provide the first cross-sectional population values for multiple FSV. Future studies could examine relative genetic vs. environmental determinants of FSV, how FSV values change longitudinally, and how they contribute to future health and disease.

Dietary intake and major source foods of vitamin E among Koreans: findings of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016-2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Vitamin E is essential for health, and although vitamin E deficiency seems rare in humans, studies on estimates of dietary intake are lacking. This study aimed to estimate dietary vitamin E intake, evaluate dietary adequacy of vitamin E, and detail major food sources of vitamin E in the Korean population.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

This study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2016-2019. Individuals aged ≥ 1 year that participated in a nutrition survey (n = 28,418) were included. Dietary intake was assessed by 24-h recall and individual dietary vitamin E intake was estimated using a newly established vitamin E database. Dietary adequacy was evaluated by comparing dietary intake with adequate intake (AI) as defined by Korean Dietary Reference Intakes 2020.

RESULTS

For all study subjects, mean daily total vitamin E intake was 7.00 mg α-tocopherol equivalents, which was 61.6% of AI. The proportion of individuals that consumed vitamin E at above the AI was 12.9%. Inadequate intake was observed more in females, older individuals, rural residents, and those with a low income. Mean daily intakes of tocopherol (α-, β-, γ-, and δ-forms) and tocotrienol were 6.02, 0.30, 6.19, 1.63, and 1.61 mg, respectively. The major food groups that contributed to total dietary vitamin E intake were grains (22.3%), seasonings (17.0%), vegetables (15.3%), and fish, and shellfish (7.4%). The top 5 individual food items that contributed to total vitamin E intake were baechu kimchi, red pepper powder, eggs, soybean oil, and rice.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that mean dietary vitamin E intake by Koreans did not meet the reference adequate intake value. To better understand the status of vitamin E intake, further research is needed that considers intake from dietary supplements.

Association between serum Vitamin E concentrations and the presence of Metabolic Syndrome: A population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of clinical and metabolic features that include central obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and impaired glucose tolerance. These features are accompanied by increased oxidative stress and impaired antioxidant defenses. Vitamin E is a major factor in the non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses. The aim of present study was to investigate the association between serum levels of vitamin E and the presence of MetS and its components in a sample population of Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder (MASHAD) cohort study.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out in 128 subjects with MetS and 235 subjects without MetS. MetS was defined according to the International-Diabetes-Federation criteria. Serum levels of vitamin E were measured using the HPLC method. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured using standard protocols.  Results. MetS patients had significantly lower serum levels of vitamin E (Vit E), Vit E/Total cholesterol (TC), and Vit E/ (TC+triglyceride(TG)) compared to the control group (P < 0.05).  Vit E/ (TG+TC) was also significantly lower in diabetics or those with elevated levels of high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Additionally, there was a significant association between Vit E/ (TG + Total Cho) and the number of components of the metabolic syndrome (p= 0.02) Conclusions. There is a significant inverse association between indices of Vit E status and the presence of MetS. Moreover, a significantly lower Vit E/ (TC+TG) was observed along with individuals with increasing numbers of components of the MetS.

Low Serum Vitamin E Level Associated with Low Hand Grip Strength in Community-Dwelling Adults: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VII) 2016-2018

This study assessed the association between serum vitamin E levels and hand grip strength (HGS) in community-dwelling adults data of 1011 men aged 50 years and older and 1144 postmenopausal women were analyzed. Low HGS was defined as HGS below the sex-stratified median value. Proportion of low HGS was the greatest in the lowest quintile of serum vitamin E level (<10.51 mg/L, 57.1%), with a decreasing trend toward the highest vitamin E quintile (>17.81 mg/L, 43.6%; p < 0.001). A one-unit (mg/L) decrease in vitamin E levels was associated with lower HGS in men (adjusted beta coefficient −0.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.18 to −0.02, p = 0.019), but not in women (−0.01, 95% CI −0.06 to 0.03, p = 0.550). Compared with the middle quintile (Q3; 12.59–14.69 mg/L), the lowest vitamin E quintile (Q1) was associated with elevated odds of low HGS (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.38, p = 0.045), independent of sociodemographic factors, health-related lifestyles, comorbidities, dietary intake, and cholesterol level. However, the odds of low HGS did not differ significantly in other vitamin E quintiles (Q2, aOR 1.12; Q4, aOR 1.38; Q5, aOR 1.12; p > 0.05). Individuals with the lowest quintile vitamin E level had elevated odds of low HGS independent of covariates, findings which merit further validation.

Molecular Breeding for Nutritionally Enriched Maize: Status and Prospects

Maize is a major source of food security and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Latin America, and the Caribbean, and is among the top three cereal crops in Asia. Yet, maize is deficient in certain essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Biofortified maize cultivars enriched with essential minerals and vitamins could be particularly impactful in rural areas with limited access to diversified diet, dietary supplements, and fortified foods. Significant progress has been made in developing, testing, and deploying maize cultivars biofortified with quality protein maize (QPM), provitamin A, and kernel zinc. In this review, we outline the status and prospects of developing nutritionally enriched maize by successfully harnessing conventional and molecular marker-assisted breeding, highlighting the need for intensification of efforts to create greater impacts on malnutrition in maize-consuming populations, especially in the low- and middle-income countries. Molecular marker-assisted selection methods are particularly useful for improving nutritional traits since conventional breeding methods are relatively constrained by the cost and throughput of nutritional trait phenotyping.

Vitamin E status in healthy population in Asia: A review of current literature

Vitamin E is a lipid soluble antioxidant which mainly circulates as α-tocopherol in the human plasma. Its deficiency is associated with ataxia, neuropathy, anaemia and several other health conditions. Although substantial data on vitamin E status has been published worldwide, there is paucity of data on the extent of deficiency from most Asian countries, including India. Part of the problem is lack of validated biomarkers for vitamin E and no consensus on cut offs for defining deficiency and sufficiency. Thus, interpretation of the data on the vitamin E status is difficult. Limited available data from 31 studies on vitamin E status in healthy people from Asia, the most populated continent, has been collated for the purpose of this review. Broadly, the results suggest inadequate vitamin E status in most age groups, with the prevalence of deficiency reaching 67%, 80%, 56% and 72% in infants, children and adolescents, adults, elderly and pregnant women, respectively, based on varying cut offs. The findings are not surprising as both, vitamin E intakes and its status have not received too much attention in the past. Lack of conclusive data accentuates the need for more research on the vitamin E status across all age groups and to define age, gender and physiological state specific cut offs for vitamin E levels.

From in planta Function to Vitamin-Rich Food Crops: The ACE of Biofortification

Humans are highly dependent on plants to reach their dietary requirements, as plant products contribute both to energy and essential nutrients. For many decades, plant breeders have been able to gradually increase yields of several staple crops, thereby alleviating nutritional needs with varying degrees of success. However, many staple crops such as rice, wheat and corn, although delivering sufficient calories, fail to satisfy micronutrient demands, causing the so called 'hidden hunger.' Biofortification, the process of augmenting nutritional quality of food through the use of agricultural methodologies, is a pivotal asset in the fight against micronutrient malnutrition, mainly due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Several technical advances have led to recent breakthroughs. Nutritional genomics has come to fruition based on marker-assisted breeding enabling rapid identification of micronutrient related quantitative trait loci (QTL) in the germplasm of interest. As a complement to these breeding techniques, metabolic engineering approaches, relying on a continuously growing fundamental knowledge of plant metabolism, are able to overcome some of the inevitable pitfalls of breeding. Alteration of micronutrient levels does also require fundamental knowledge about their role and influence on plant growth and development. This review focuses on our knowledge about provitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin C (ascorbate) and the vitamin E group (tocochromanols). We begin by providing an overview of the functions of these vitamins in planta, followed by highlighting some of the achievements in the nutritional enhancement of food crops via conventional breeding and genetic modification, concluding with an evaluation of the need for such biofortification interventions. The review further elaborates on the vast potential of creating nutritionally enhanced crops through multi-pathway engineering and the synergistic potential of conventional breeding in combination with genetic engineering, including the impact of novel genome editing technologies.

Weight loss program is associated with decrease α-tocopherol status in obese adults

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Studies on changes in plasma α-tocopherol levels during body fat reduction in obese persons are not clear. The aim of the present study was to assess factors associated with α-tocopherol status in obese people and to examine changes in α-tocopherol status after a 6-week AntioxObesity weight loss program.

METHODS

The study was conducted in 60 overweight or obese adults, aged 18-54 years old. Food intake data were collected using the 3-day record method and a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements included: height (H), body weight, waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC), body composition: fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM), subcutaneous fat (SF) and visceral fat (VF). Lipid profile, α-tocopherol concentration, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in plasma and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in erythrocytes were determined.

RESULTS

Energy, fat, and carbohydrate intakes decreased significantly in all subjects (P < 0.001). Body weight, WC, body mass index (BMI), waist-to height ratio (WHtR), and FM, VF and SF decreased significantly during the 6 weeks in all subjects. Plasma α-tocopherol significantly decreased during the program (P = 0.006). No changes were observed for SOD activity, but GPx activity and TAC decreased significantly (P = 0.001; P = 0,023, respectively). Plasma α-tocopherol concentration after 6 weeks of the AntioxObesity program was strongly associated with baseline plasma α-tocopherol, changes in TC, VF and FM. Low α-tocopherol status (<20 μmol/L) was found in 78% of the women and 68% of the men, after 6 weeks of the AntioxObesity program. Men were characterized by a greater decrease in weight, BMI, WC, FM, VF, SF and TAC compared to women.

CONCLUSIONS

A 6-week weight loss program lowered α-tocopherol status in overweight and obese people. Low baseline α-tocopherol status and adiposity in obese adults negatively affected α-tocopherol status after 6 weeks weight loss program. These results, coupled with excessive weight and low α-tocopherol intake, led to the finding that there was an increased risk of oxidative stress diseases in adults on a reduced diet. Long-term dietary restriction program for obese patients should be monitored to avoid α-tocopherol deficiency, and take into account higher dietary α-tocopherol requirements for obese people.

Folate food source, usual intake, and folate status in Korean adults

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The purposes of the study were to investigate folate intakes and plasma folate concentrations as well as estimate folate status in Korean healthy adults.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

A total of 254 healthy 19- to 64-year-old adults (68 men and 186 women) living in Seoul metropolitan area, Gumi, and Kwangju, Korea participated. Three consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls, information on folate supplementation, and fasting blood samples were collected from the subjects.

RESULTS

The mean dietary folate intakes were 587.4 and 499.2 µg dietary folate equivalent (DFE)/day for men and women, respectively. The median dietary intakes of men and women were 566.6 and 474.6 µg DFE/day, respectively. Forty subjects (16.7% of total) less total folate than the estimated average requirement (EAR). Folate intakes of 23.3% of men and 34.8% of women aged 19-29 years did not meet the EAR for folate. Major food sources consumed for dietary folate were baechukimchi (Chinese cabbage kimchi), rice, spinach, eggs, and laver, which provided 44% of dietary folate intake for the subjects. Plasma folate concentrations were 23.4 nmol/L for men and 28.3 nmol/L for women, and this level was significantly lower in men than in women. Approximately 13% of men and 3% of women were folate-deficient, and the percentages of subjects showing folate concentrations lower than 10 nmol/L were 27.9% of men and 6.4% of women.

CONCLUSIONS

Folate intakes of Korean adults in this study were generally adequate. However, one-third of young adults had inadequate folate intakes.

Vitamin E Biosynthesis and Its Regulation in Plants

Vitamin E is one of the 13 vitamins that are essential to animals that do not produce them. To date, six natural organic compounds belonging to the chemical family of tocochromanols-four tocopherols and two tocotrienols-have been demonstrated as exhibiting vitamin E activity in animals. Edible plant-derived products, notably seed oils, are the main sources of vitamin E in the human diet. Although this vitamin is readily available, independent nutritional surveys have shown that human populations do not consume enough vitamin E, and suffer from mild to severe deficiency. Tocochromanols are mostly produced by plants, algae, and some cyanobacteria. Tocochromanol metabolism has been mainly studied in higher plants that produce tocopherols, tocotrienols, plastochromanol-8, and tocomonoenols. In contrast to the tocochromanol biosynthetic pathways that are well characterized, our understanding of the physiological and molecular mechanisms regulating tocochromanol biosynthesis is in its infancy. Although it is known that tocochromanol biosynthesis is strongly conditioned by the availability in homogentisate and polyprenyl pyrophosphate, its polar and lipophilic biosynthetic precursors, respectively, the mechanisms regulating their biosyntheses are barely known. This review summarizes our current knowledge of tocochromanol biosynthesis in plants, and highlights future challenges regarding the understanding of its regulation.

The effect of almonds on vitamin E status and cardiovascular risk factors in Korean adults: a randomized clinical trial

Purpose

Almonds have shown to beneficially modify some cardiovascular risk factors in clinical trials conducted in diverse ethnic populations but this relationship has never been tested in Koreans. Thus, we tested the impact of almonds consumed as a snack within the context of a typical Korean diet on cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods

We conducted a randomized, crossover trial in a free-living setting with a 2-week run-in period, two 4-week intervention phases, and a 2-week washout period between interventions. Eighty four overweight/obese participants (11 M/73 F; 52.4 ± 0.6 year; 25.4 ± 0.22 kg/m²) consumed either 56 g of almonds or isocaloric cookies daily for 4 weeks.

Results

Mean % daily energy intake at baseline was 64.8, 21.3, and 14.9% from carbohydrate, fat, and protein, respectively. The addition of 56 g of almonds daily decreased carbohydrate energy to 55.0%, increased fat to 32.0%, and maintained protein at 14.7%. Consuming the almonds increased intake of MUFA by 192.3%, PUFA by 84.5%, vitamin E by 102.7%, and dietary fiber by 11.8% and decreased % energy from carbohydrate by 14.1%. Total caloric intake was increased by the almonds, but body weight, waist circumference, and body composition were not affected. Almonds in overweight and obese Korean adults decreased TC, LDL-C, and non-HDL-C by 5.5, 4.6, and 6.4%, respectively, compared to the cookie control (P ≤ 0.05). Almonds increased plasma α-tocopherol by 8.5% (P ≤ 0.05) from the baseline and tended to increase its value as compared to cookies (P = 0.055). Neither the almonds nor cookies altered plasma protein carbonyls, MDA or oxLDL. Of serum inflammatory markers, IL-10 was decreased by almond intake (P ≤ 0.05), and ICAM-1, IL-1β, and IL-6 tended to be lower with almonds, compared to the cookies.

Conclusions

Almonds at 56 g/day consumed as a snack favorably modified the Korean diet by increasing MUFA, PUFA, vitamin E, and dietary fiber intake and decreasing % energy intake from carbohydrate. Almonds also enhanced plasma α-tocopherol status and serum TC and LDL-C in overweight and obese Koreans. Thus, including almonds in typical Korean diets as a snack can help healthy overweight/obese individuals improve nutritional status and reduce their risk for CVD.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00394-017-1480-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Vitamin E: Emerging aspects and new directions

The discovery of vitamin E will have its 100th anniversary in 2022, but we still have more questions than answers regarding the biological functions and the essentiality of vitamin E for human health. Discovered as a factor essential for rat fertility and soon after characterized for its properties of fat-soluble antioxidant, vitamin E was identified to have signaling and gene regulation effects in the 1980s. In the same years the cytochrome P-450 dependent metabolism of vitamin E was characterized and a first series of studies on short-chain carboxyethyl metabolites in the 1990s paved the way to the hypothesis of a biological role for this metabolism alternative to vitamin E catabolism. In the last decade other physiological metabolites of vitamin E have been identified, such as α-tocopheryl phosphate and the long-chain metabolites formed by the ω-hydroxylase activity of cytochrome P-450. Recent findings are consistent with gene regulation and homeostatic roles of these metabolites in different experimental models, such as inflammatory, neuronal and hepatic cells, and in vivo in animal models of acute inflammation. Molecular mechanisms underlying these responses are under investigation in several laboratories and side-glances to research on other fat soluble vitamins may help to move faster in this direction. Other emerging aspects presented in this review paper include novel insights on the mechanisms of reduction of the cardiovascular risk, immunomodulation and antiallergic effects, neuroprotection properties in models of glutamate excitotoxicity and spino-cerebellar damage, hepatoprotection and prevention of liver toxicity by different causes and even therapeutic applications in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. We here discuss these topics with the aim of stimulating the interest of the scientific community and further research activities that may help to celebrate this anniversary of vitamin E with an in-depth knowledge of its action as vitamin.

Anthropometric Status and Nutritional Intake in Children (6-9 Years) in Valencia (Spain): The ANIVA Study

The aim of our study was to assess nutritional intake and anthropometric statuses in schoolchildren to subsequently determine nutritional adequacy with Spanish Dietary Reference Intake (DRIs). The ANIVA study, a descriptive cross-sectional study, was conducted in 710 schoolchildren (6–9 years) in 2013–2014 in Valencia (Spain). Children’s dietary intake was measured using 3-day food records, completed by parents. Anthropometric measures (weight and height) were measured according to international standards, and BMI-for-age was calculated and converted into z-scores by WHO-Anthro for age and sex. Nutrient adequacy was assessed using DRI based on estimated average requirement (EAR) or adequate intake (AI). Pearson’s chi-square and Student’s t-test were employed. Of our study group (47.61% boys, 52.39% girls), 53.1% were normoweight and the weight of 46.9% was inadequate; of these, 38.6% had excess body weight (19.6% overweight and 19.0% obesity). We found intakes were lower for biotin, fiber, fluoride, vitamin D (p < 0.016), zinc, iodine, vitamin E, folic acid, calcium and iron (p < 0.017), and higher for lipids, proteins and cholesterol. Our results identify better nutritional adequacy to Spanish recommendations in overweight children. Our findings suggest that nutritional intervention and educational strategies are needed to promote healthy eating in these children and nutritional adequacies.