EVIDENCE FOR THE PHOTOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF VITAMIN E

Abstract

Abstract— The antioxidant vitamin E (α‐tocopherol) may protect both animal and plant cell membranes from light‐induced damage. The various biochemical and biophysical modes of protection are considered. An examination is made of the evidence that vitamin E plays an important prophylactic role against a number of serious light‐induced diseases and conditions of the eye (cataractogenesis and retinal photodeterioration) and skin (erythrocyte photohem‐olysis, photoerythema, photoaging and photocarcinogenesis) that are mediated by photooxidative damage to cell membranes. Copyright © 1993, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved