Question

Vitamin E is also known as
(A)Decalcifying vitamin
(B)Antisterility vitamin
(C)Prothrombin vitamin
(D)Antihemophilic vitamin

Answer 1

Vitamin E was first introduced by Evans and Bishop in 1922 who gave it a special name due to its necessity in reproduction. It has been characterized as a lipid-soluble antioxidant since then.

Complete answer:
Vitamin E is a group of eight fat-soluble compounds including 4 tocopherols and 4 tocotrienols and is known as an anti-sterility vitamin. It was first discovered by Evans and Bishop who denoted it as an anti-sterility factor X necessary for reproduction. The main function of this fat-soluble antioxidant is to protect the cell membrane from reactive oxygen species.

Additional Information:
Decalcification refers to the softening of bones due to the removal of ions of calcium and is performed as a histological technique in order to study bones and extract their DNA. It occurs naturally in bone development and growth and in diseases like osteomalacia.
Sterility refers to the physiological inability to effect sexual reproduction in a living thing and can be triggered by a number of various causes.
Prothrombin is a clotting factor made by the liver which requires vitamin K for its production. This factor further generates thrombin that converts fibrinogen into fibrin.
Antihemophilic factor is another clotting factor also known as coagulation factor VIII which temporarily raises levels of factor VIII in the blood to aid in clotting.

So, the correct answer is "Antisterility vitamin".

Note: Vitamin E has many roles as a vitamin including a role as a fat-soluble antioxidant. In this it acts as a radical scavenger, delivering an H atom to free radicals. It is also incorporated in cell membranes and protects it from oxidative damage. This vitamin also affects gene expression. Its deficiency is rare in humans but can cause Peripheral neuropathy, myopathies, retinopathy, and impairment of immune response.