Abstract
The aim of this article is to correct a very general error in scientific articles, in textbooks and in the Internet that has become an accepted fact. In this literature, the term "vitamin E″ is used for several similar molecules (both tocopherols and tocotrienols) that have never been shown to have vitamin property, i.e. a protective effect against the human deficiency disease. In fact, the name "vitamin E″ should only be used to define molecules that prevent the human deficiency disease "Ataxia with Vitamin E Deficiency" (AVED). Only one such molecule is known, α-tocopherol. This error may confuse consumers as well as medical doctors, who prescribe vitamin E without realizing that the current use of the name includes molecules of unknown, if not unwanted functions.
Copyright © 2019 The Author. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
MeSH terms
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Antioxidants / administration & dosage*
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Ascorbic Acid / administration & dosage
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Ataxia / diet therapy*
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Ataxia / metabolism
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Ataxia / physiopathology
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Ataxia / prevention & control
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Calcitriol / administration & dosage
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Dietary Supplements*
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Humans
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Rickets / diet therapy*
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Rickets / metabolism
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Rickets / physiopathology
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Rickets / prevention & control
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Scurvy / diet therapy*
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Scurvy / metabolism
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Scurvy / physiopathology
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Scurvy / prevention & control
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Stereoisomerism
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Terminology as Topic
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Tocotrienols / chemistry
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Tocotrienols / classification
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Vitamin E / administration & dosage
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Vitamin E Deficiency / diet therapy*
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Vitamin E Deficiency / metabolism
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Vitamin E Deficiency / physiopathology
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Vitamin E Deficiency / prevention & control
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alpha-Tocopherol / administration & dosage
Substances
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Antioxidants
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Tocotrienols
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Vitamin E
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Calcitriol
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alpha-Tocopherol
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Ascorbic Acid
Supplementary concepts
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Ataxia with vitamin E deficiency