What Are the Symptoms of Vitamin E Deficiency in Men?

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that promotes the secretion of sex hormones, increasing the vitality and quantity of sperm in men. It also enhances the concentration of female estrogens, improves fertility, and prevents miscarriages. Vitamin E plays a crucial role in maintaining human health. Therefore, men need to be aware of the symptoms of vitamin E deficiency and address them promptly. What are the symptoms of vitamin E deficiency in men?

1. Muscle Weakness: When it comes to signs of aging, most people tend to focus solely on skin wrinkles, often neglecting the health of muscles and bones. In fact, while sufficient antioxidant substances are necessary to delay skin aging, our muscle tissue also requires them. Adequate intakes of antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, and selenium are beneficial for delaying muscle loss. Starting from age 30, we lose muscle mass at a rate of 0.5% to 1% per year, decreasing by 6% to 8% every ten years. When muscle loss reaches a certain level, it can lead to decreased physical function, such as fatigue, difficulty standing, slow gait, and frequent falls. It can also exacerbate the development of diseases like osteoporosis and arthritis and affect blood sugar regulation and lipid metabolism. Therefore, the saying "money can't buy old age slimness" is only partially true. As we age, it's not necessarily better to be thinner; we must also be vigilant against muscle wasting.

2. Thinning and Poor Hair Quality: Hair is one of the most distal tissues of our body, and it can reflect a person's nutritional status to a certain extent. Previously, dry, dull, split, and lifeless hair was often attributed to frequent dyeing, styling, and improper care. However, with the increasing prevalence of late nights, insomnia, and mental stress, hair loss has become a common problem. To compensate for the damage caused by these external factors, it is crucial to prioritize the supplementation of various nutrients in the diet. The essence of hair is keratin, a type of protein. Besides protein itself, the synthesis of keratin requires the assistance of various vitamins and trace elements. Only with adequate nutrition will the condition of hair improve.

Generally, in the absence of vitamin E deficiency symptoms caused by a lack of vitamin E in the body, it is sufficient to increase the intake of foods rich in vitamin E in the daily diet. Common sources of vitamin E include meat, eggs, and leafy vegetables. Foods with higher vitamin E content include wheat germ, cottonseed, soybeans, peanuts, sesame seeds, and various edible vegetable oils derived from them. Nuts and whole grains are also rich in vitamin E. It's worth noting that both vitamin E and antioxidant substances like carotenoids, anthocyanins, and flavonoids are "delicate" and require interaction with other foods to exert their effects. Therefore, it is advisable to consume natural foods directly rather than relying on dietary supplements. After all, the composition of dietary supplements is usually relatively single, and it can be challenging for ordinary people to control the dosage accurately. Natural foods often contain multiple nutrients that complement each other, which is more conducive to maximizing their benefits.