Unlike most nutrients, a specific role for vitamin E in a required metabolic
function has not been found. Vitamin E’s major function appears to be as a non-specific
chain-breaking antioxidant that prevents the propagation of free-radical reactions. The
vitamin is a peroxyl radical scavenger and especially protects polyunsaturated fatty acids
(PUFAs) within membrane phospholipids and in plasma lipoproteins.