ABSTRACT
This chapter describes vitamin E structures, functions and interactions with other antioxidants, as these factors relate to exercise and vitamin E status. Despite the many known health benefits of exercise, including cardiovascular fitness, blood glucose control, maintenance of lean body mass and positive effects on the lipid profile, there is a wide body of evidence suggesting that exercise results in oxidative damage. In addition to its antioxidant function, α-tocopherol is believed to have anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory effects through its modulation of some molecular signaling pathways. The liver is the site of vitamin E regulation. In the liver, only a-tocopherol of the dietary vitamin E forms absorbed is repackaged into lipoproteins by the a-tocopherol transfer protein. Conjugated dienes, another polyunsaturated fatty acids oxidation product, have been used to assess oxidative stress resulting from exercise. The assay utilizes the unique characteristic of these structures to absorb ultraviolet light.
