Newer aspects of micronutrients in chronic disease: vitamin E

Vitamin E is an essential fat-soluble vitamin that was discovered in 1922 by Evans and Bishop. For many years after its discovery vitamin E remained a mysterious vitamin, and it took over four decades before it was proved that vitamin E deficiency could cause disease in humans. In recent years, vitamin E has been linked to several distinct clinical problems in humans, including haemolytic anaemia in premature newborn infants, decreased erythrocyte stability in patients with cystic fibrosis and 'brown bowel syndrome'. Other studies demonstrated that vitamin E played an essential role in maintaining the integrity of neuromuscular systems and retina.