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1. Medical conditions

The deficiency is caused due to certain medical conditions that severely reduce the absorption of fats in the body, as fats are required to absorb vitamin E correctly. Some of these medical conditions include:

Chronic cholestatic hepatobiliary disease

Crohn’s disease Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency Patients with cystic fibrosis Chronic renal disease Inherited hemolytic anaemia

2. Genetics

Some of the cases of severe vitamin E deficiency in humans occur due to genetic defects in the alpha-tocopherol transfer protein, which is the vital source of vitamin E in the body. It includes diseases like congenital abetalipoproteinemia, spinocerebellar ataxia, along with other neurological disorders. Another cause is genetic defects that lead to the malabsorption of fats in the body, thus leading to vitamin E deficiency. It includes diseases like cholestatic liver disease or cystic fibrosis.

Note: In developing and underdeveloped countries, intake of insufficient amounts of vitamin E is the main cause of its deficiency, while in developed countries, underlying conditions are the main cause of vitamin E deficiency.

Symptoms of Vitamin E GHÀFLHQF\ Some of the vital signs and symptoms of vitamin E deficiency include: Neurologic defects such as dysfunction of the brain, nerves, spinal cord and muscles.

Muscle pain and weakness.

Muscle deterioration, including cardiomyopathy or disease of the heart muscles.

Low birth weights in newborns. Difficulty in moving the eyes up and down. Hyporeflexia or decreased or absent reflex response of muscles. Decreased night vision.

Loss or decreased sense of vibratory sense. Feeling of numbness or tingling.