Moukobolo Kinsangou Franck Arnaud1,2 , Poaty Henriette1,3*
Introduction: Vitamin E is a micronutrient considered to be an anticancer and antitoxic agent. Indeed, its antioxidant property allows to fight against reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the origin lipids, proteins and DNA damages involved in the genesis of several human diseases such as infections, cancers. However, its systematic intake in cancer prevention as a therapeutic adjuvant is sometimes controversial. Currently, according some reviews, the best therapeutic approach in cancers, with none harmful effects, would be the dietary intake of foods rich in vitamin E in a short-term. Thus, the objective of the present work is to make a review of foods rich in vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), available and accessible on the Congolese public markets.
Literature review: Firstly, we surveyed published articles and books on vitamin E. Secondly; we listed all the foods rich in vitamin E that are more consumed in central Africa.
Results: Literature review shows that food rich in vitamin E are oils: especially unrefined palm oil, peanut oil; cereals like soybean, rice, wheat; green vegetables like spinach, squash, beans, moringa leaves, cassava leaves; fruits as avocado or mango.
Conclusion: There are various foods consumed in Congo, which are rich in vitamin E specifically unrefined oils, green vegetable, fish and eggs. The data from this work may orient clinicians to promote dietary intake rich in vitamin E instead of the synthetic vitamin E consumption.
