Vitamin E deficiency

Definition

Because vitamin E is plentiful in common foods, primary dietary deficiency is rare except in premature infants and in severe undernutrition. Vitamin E deficiency does occur in children and adults with fat malabsorption secondary to the need for bile acid for vitamin E absorption. Patients with cholestasis or pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (steatorrhea) are at risk for vitamin E deficiency because of malabsorption of fat and fat-soluble vitamin. These disorders include cirrhosis, cholestatic liver disease, cystic fibrosis, small bowel bacterial overgrowth, pancreatic insufficiency, celiac disease, and Crohn disease. The degree of deficiency is generally proportional to the magnitude and the duration of steatorrhea. Because of its role as an antioxidant, there is considerable research on the potential role of vitamin E supplementation in chronic illnesses.

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