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Vitamin E is a vitamin that dissolves in fat. It is found in many foods including vegetable oils, cereals, meat, poultry, eggs, and fruits.
Vitamin E is an important vitamin required for the proper function of many organs in the body. It is also an antioxidant. Vitamin E that occurs naturally in foods (RRR-alpha-tocopherol) is different from man-made vitamin E that is in supplements (all-rac-alpha-tocopherol).
Vitamin E is used for treating vitamin E deficiency, which is rare, but can occur in people with certain genetic disorders and in very low-weight premature infants. Vitamin E is also used for many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these other uses.
- Ataxia with vitamin E deficiency (AVED). Oral vitamin E is effective for treating vitamin E deficiency due to the genetic disorder AVED.
Login for details - Vitamin E deficiency. Oral vitamin E is effective for preventing or treating vitamin E deficiency and associated conditions.
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- Alzheimer disease. Oral vitamin E might slow functional decline in some patients with this condition. However, it does not seem to prevent Alzheimer disease onset.
Login for details - Beta-thalassemia. Oral vitamin E seems to be beneficial for children with this condition.
Login for details - Dysmenorrhea. Oral vitamin E might improve response to treatment in patients with this condition.
Login for details - Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Oral vitamin E seems to be beneficial in patients with G6PD deficiency.
Login for details - Intracranial hemorrhage. Oral vitamin E might reduce the risk of intracranial hemorrhage in premature infants.
Login for details - Intraventricular hemorrhage. Oral vitamin E might reduce the risk of intraventricular hemorrhage in premature infants. Intravenous vitamin E does not provide this benefit.
Login for details - Nitrate tolerance. Oral vitamin E might reduce tolerance to nitrates.
Login for details - Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Oral vitamin E seems to improve outcomes in patients with NASH.
Login for details - Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Oral vitamin E seems to improve PMS symptoms.
Login for details - Tardive dyskinesia. Oral vitamin E might attenuate worsening of tardive dyskinesia in patients taking antipsychotic medications.
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- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Oral vitamin E does not seem to slow AMD progression.
Login for details - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease). Oral vitamin E does not seem to slow ALS progression.
Login for details - Angina. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce angina symptoms.
Login for details - Atherosclerosis. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce atherosclerosis progression.
Login for details - Atopic dermatitis (eczema). Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce eczema symptoms.
Login for details - Breast cancer-related hot flashes. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce hot flashes related to breast cancer.
Login for details - Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce the risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants.
Login for details - Cataracts. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce cataract risk.
Login for details - Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce peripheral neuropathy due to chemotherapy.
Login for details - Colorectal cancer. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce colorectal cancer risk.
Login for details - Congestive heart failure (CHF). Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce CHF symptoms or prevent CHF development.
Login for details - Head and neck cancer. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce the risk of head and neck cancer recurrence. In fact, it might increase recurrence risk.
Login for details - Hypertension. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce blood pressure.
Login for details - Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Oral vitamin E during pregnancy does not seem to reduce IUGR risk.
Login for details - Liver disease. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce liver disease-associated mortality.
Login for details - Oral leukoplakia. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce the risk for oral leukoplakia in male smokers.
Login for details - Osteoarthritis. Oral vitamin E does not seem to be beneficial for osteoarthritis treatment or prevention.
Login for details - Pancreatic cancer. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce pancreatic cancer risk.
Login for details - Parkinson disease. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce Parkinson disease symptoms or progression, although the risk of developing the disease may decrease with increased dietary vitamin E intake.
Login for details - Pharyngeal cancer. It is unclear if oral vitamin E reduces the risk of developing cancer of the pharynx.
Login for details - Pre-eclampsia. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce pre-eclampsia risk.
Login for details - Preterm labor. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce risk for premature labor.
Login for details - Prostate cancer. Despite conflicting findings, the best evidence indicates that oral vitamin E supplementation does not reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
Login for details - Respiratory tract infections. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce respiratory infections in most patients. However, there's some evidence that it might reduce incidence of the common cold in patients living in long-term care facilities.
Login for details - Retinitis pigmentosa. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce retinitis pigmentosa and related visual decline.
Login for details - Scarring. Topical vitamin E does not seem to improve scar appearance.
Login for details - Stillbirth. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce risk of a stillborn baby.
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- Breast cancer. Oral vitamin E does not reduce breast cancer risk.
Login for details - Cancer. Oral vitamin E does not reduce the risk of cancer in most patients.
Login for details - Cardiovascular disease (CVD). Most evidence shows that oral vitamin E does not reduce the risk for CVD events or complications.
Login for details - Fetal and premature infant mortality. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce death in preterm infants.
Login for details - Fibrocystic breast disease. Oral vitamin E does not improve fibrocystic breast disease in most patients.
Login for details - Lung cancer. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce lung cancer risk.
Login for details - Overall mortality. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce the risk of mortality from all causes.
Login for details - Prematurity. Oral vitamin E does not seem to reduce the risk of premature birth and complications.
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- Aging skin. Topical vitamin E has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Anemia of chronic disease. Small clinical studies suggest that oral vitamin E might improve response to anemia treatment in patients on chronic hemodialysis.
Login for details - Asthma. It is unclear if oral vitamin E is beneficial for asthma treatment or prevention.
Login for details - Atopic disease. It is unclear if oral vitamin E reduces the risk of atopic disease in infants.
Login for details - Bladder cancer. It is unclear if oral vitamin E reduces bladder cancer risk.
Login for details - Burns. It is unclear if topical vitamin E is beneficial for healing of burn wounds.
Login for details - Chemotherapy-related infection. It is unclear if oral vitamin E is beneficial in patients with infection due to chemotherapy.
Login for details - Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Login for details
- Cisplatin-associated ototoxicity. It is unclear if oral vitamin E is beneficial for preventing ototoxicity due to cisplatin.
Login for details - Colistin-induced nephrotoxicity. It is unclear if oral vitamin E is beneficial for preventing nephrotoxicity due to colistin.
Login for details - Contrast induced nephropathy. It is unclear if oral or intravenous vitamin E is beneficial in patients with nephropathy due to contrast dye.
Login for details - Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. It is unclear if oral vitamin E is beneficial for recovery after CABG.
Login for details - Dementia. It is unclear if oral vitamin E is beneficial for dementia prevention; the available research is conflicting.
Login for details - Depression. Login for details
- Developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Oral vitamin E has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients for DCD; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Diabetes. It is unclear if oral vitamin E is beneficial for the treatment or prevention of diabetes.
Login for details - Diabetic foot ulcers. Oral vitamin E has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients for diabetic foot ulcers; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Diabetic nephropathy. It is unclear if oral vitamin E is beneficial in patients with diabetes and impaired kidney function.
Login for details - Diabetic neuropathy. It is unclear if oral vitamin E is beneficial for improving diabetic neuropathy symptoms.
Login for details - Down syndrome. Oral vitamin E does not seem to slow cognitive decline in patients with this condition.
Login for details - Endometriosis. Oral vitamin E has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Extravasation. Topical vitamin E has only been evaluated in combination with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO); its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Gastric cancer. It is unclear if oral vitamin E is beneficial for preventing gastric cancer or reducing associated mortality.
Login for details - Glomerulosclerosis. It is unclear if oral vitamin E reduces proteinuria due to glomerulosclerosis in children.
Login for details - Granuloma annulare. Login for details
- Helicobacter pylori. Oral vitamin E has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Huntington disease. It is unclear if oral vitamin E improves Huntington disease symptoms.
Login for details - IgA nephropathy. It is unclear if oral vitamin E is beneficial for IgA nephropathy in children.
Login for details - Infertility. It is unclear if oral vitamin E improves pregnancy rates in females with infertility of unknown cause.
Login for details - Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Login for details
- Intermittent claudication. It is unclear if oral vitamin E improves intermittent claudication symptoms.
Login for details - Lice. Topical synthetic vitamin E might be beneficial for head lice eradication.
Login for details - Male infertility. Studies of oral vitamin E in infertile males show conflicting results and it is unclear whether vitamin E supplementation improves live birth rates.
Login for details - Melanoma. It is unclear if oral vitamin E is beneficial for reducing melanoma risk.
Login for details - Menopausal symptoms. It is unclear if oral vitamin E is beneficial for reducing menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes.
Login for details - Methotrexate toxicity. It is unclear if oral vitamin E reduces the risk of liver toxicity due to methotrexate.
Login for details - Muscular dystrophy. Small clinical studies suggest that oral vitamin E may not improve muscular dystrophy symptoms or progression.
Login for details - Nocturnal leg cramps. It is unclear if oral vitamin E reduces leg cramps in veterans or in patients on hemodialysis.
Login for details - Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It is unclear if oral vitamin E is beneficial in adults or children with NAFLD.
Login for details - Obesity. It is unclear if oral vitamin E is beneficial for improving weight loss.
Login for details - Oral mucositis. It is unclear if oral or topical vitamin E is beneficial in patients with oral mucositis from chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Login for details - Osteopenia. It is unclear if oral vitamin E helps slow the progression of osteopenia.
Login for details - Osteoporosis. It is unclear if oral vitamin E helps to reduce complications of osteoporosis such as fractures.
Login for details - Peyronie disease. It is unclear if oral vitamin E reduces Peyronie disease symptoms.
Login for details - Photoreactive keratectomy. Oral vitamin E has only been evaluated for recovery after photoreactive keratectomy in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Physical performance. It is unclear if oral vitamin E improves physical performance in the elderly.
Login for details - Premature rupture of membranes (PROM). Oral vitamin E does not seem to prevent PROM, although it's unclear if it might prevent premature delivery due to PROM.
Login for details - Radiation fibrosis. It is unclear if topical vitamin E reduces radiation fibrosis symptoms.
Login for details - Renal cell carcinoma. It is unclear if oral vitamin E reduces renal cell carcinoma risk.
Login for details - Restless legs syndrome (RLS). Oral vitamin E has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Retinopathy of prematurity. It is unclear whether oral or parenteral vitamin E reduces the risk for retinopathy in prematurity (ROP).
Login for details - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is unclear if oral vitamin E is beneficial in patients with RA.
Login for details - Schizophrenia. Oral vitamin E has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Sickle cell disease. Login for details
- Stretch marks (striae gravidarum). Topical vitamin E has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Stroke. It is unclear if oral vitamin E is beneficial for reducing stroke risk.
Login for details - Sunburn. Topical vitamin E has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Oral vitamin E alone does not seem to prevent sunburn.
Login for details - Uveitis. Oral vitamin E has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Vaginal atrophy. It is unclear if a vitamin E suppository is beneficial in patients with vaginal atrophy.
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When taken by mouth: Vitamin E is likely safe for most people when taken in doses lower than 1000 mg daily. This is the same as 1100 IU of synthetic vitamin E (all-rac-alpha-tocopherol) or 1500 IU of natural vitamin E (RRR-alpha-tocopherol). The risk of side effects increases with higher doses. Side effects can include nausea, fatigue, headache, and bleeding. Vitamin E is possibly unsafe when taken in doses greater than 1000 mg daily.
When applied to the skin: Vitamin E is likely safe for most people.
When inhaled: Vitamin E is possibly unsafe. Use of e-cigarettes and other vaping products containing vitamin E acetate has been linked to serious lung injury in some people.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: When used in the recommended daily amount, vitamin E is possibly safe during pregnancy. Do not take vitamin E supplements during the first 8 weeks of pregnancy without speaking with your healthcare provider. It might be harmful to the baby. Later in pregnancy, the maximum recommended amount of vitamin E is 800 mg in those 14-18 years of age and 1000 mg in those older than 18 years of age.Breast-feeding: Vitamin E is likely safe when taken by mouth in recommended daily amounts. The maximum recommended amount of vitamin E while breast-feeding is 800 mg in those 14-18 years of age and 1000 mg in those older than 18 years of age. Vitamin E is possibly unsafe when taken in doses greater than the maximum recommended amount.
Children: Vitamin E is likely safe when taken by mouth appropriately. But children should avoid taking doses of vitamin E higher than the daily upper limits. These limits are 300 IU in children 1-3 years of age, 450 IU in children 4-8 years of age, 900 IU in children 9-13 years of age, and 1200 IU in children 14-18 years of age.
Bleeding disorders: Vitamin E might make bleeding disorders worse. If you have a bleeding disorder, avoid taking vitamin E supplements.
Heart disease: Vitamin E might increase the risk for death in people with a history of heart disease. People with a history of heart disease should avoid taking doses of vitamin E greater than 400 IU daily.
Diabetes: Vitamin E might increase the risk for heart failure in people with diabetes. People with diabetes should avoid taking doses of vitamin E greater than 400 IU daily.
Head and neck cancer: Vitamin E might increase the chance that this cancer will return. Do not take vitamin E supplements in doses greater than 400 IU daily.
Weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis): Exercise is sometimes used by people with osteoporosis to improve bone strength. Exercising and taking high doses of vitamin E and vitamin C might lessen the benefits of exercise on bone strength.
Prostate cancer: Vitamin E might increase the chance of developing prostate cancer. The effect of vitamin E in people who currently have prostate cancer isn't clear, but it might worsen the condition.
An inherited eye condition that causes poor night vision and loss of side vision (retinitis pigmentosa): All-rac-alpha-tocopherol (synthetic vitamin E) 400 IU seems to speed vision loss in people with this condition. But much lower amounts (3 IU) don't seem to have this effect. If you have this condition, it is best to avoid vitamin E supplements.
Stroke: Vitamin E might increase the risk for death in some people with a history of stroke. People with a history of stroke should avoid taking doses of vitamin E greater than 400 IU daily.
Surgery: Vitamin E might increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using vitamin E supplements at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Antibiotics for cancer (Antitumor antibiotics)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant. There is some concern that antioxidants might decrease the effects of medications used for cancer. If you are taking medications for cancer, check with your healthcare provider before taking vitamin E.
Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Taking large amounts of vitamin E along with cyclosporine might increase how much cyclosporine the body absorbs. This might increase the effects and side effects of cyclosporine.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Vitamin E might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications for cancer (Alkylating agents)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant. There is some concern that antioxidants might decrease the effects of some medications used for cancer. If you are taking medications for cancer, check with your healthcare provider before taking vitamin E.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Vitamin E might slow blood clotting. Taking vitamin E along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Niacin
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Taking niacin along with the drug simvastatin can increase good cholesterol levels. Taking niacin plus simvastatin along with vitamin E and other antioxidants can decrease the effects of niacin and simvastatin on good cholesterol levels. It is unknown if vitamin E alone decreases the effects of niacin plus simvastatin on good cholesterol levels.
Selumetinib (Koselugo)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Selumetinib, a drug used for cancer, contains vitamin E. Taking selumetinib with vitamin E-containing supplements can result in an unsafe dose of vitamin E. This could increase the risk of bleeding.
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Warfarin is used to slow blood clotting. Vitamin E can also slow blood clotting. Taking vitamin E along with warfarin can increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin might need to be changed.
Beta-carotene: Taking vitamin E 800 IU daily seems to reduce blood levels of beta-carotene. Higher doses of vitamin E may reduce beta-carotene even more.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Vitamin E might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Iron: Large doses of vitamin E might reduce how much iron is absorbed by the body in infants with low iron levels. Low doses of vitamin E do not seem to have this effect. Avoid high doses of vitamin E in infants. It isn't known whether this interaction occurs in adults.
Omega-6 fatty acids: Taking omega-6 fatty acids, especially in high doses, may increase the amount of vitamin E that the body needs.
Vitamin A: Vitamin E might change how much vitamin A is absorbed by the body. But this probably isn't a major concern for most people.
Vitamin K: Large doses of vitamin E can decrease the effects of vitamin K. This might increase the risk of bleeding in people taking warfarin or other medicines that slow blood clotting. People with low vitamin K levels might be at especially high risk.
Vitamin E can be taken with or without food. But taking vitamin E with food seems to increase how much vitamin E is absorbed by the body.
Vitamin E is an important nutrient. Vegetable oils, cereals, meat, poultry, eggs, fruits, and wheat germ oil are good sources of vitamin E. The amount that should be consumed on a daily basis is called the recommended dietary allowance (RDA). The RDA for natural vitamin E (RRR-alpha-tocopherol) in adults is 15 mg (22 IU), 15 mg (22 IU) during pregnancy, and 19 mg (28 IU) when breastfeeding.
Keep in mind that the doses of natural vitamin E (RRR-alpha-tocopherol) and vitamin E that has been made in the lab (all-rac-alpha-tocopherol) are calculated differently. This can make supplement dosing confusing. The American Heart Association recommends obtaining vitamin E by eating a well-balanced diet rather than from supplements until more is known about the risks and benefits of these supplements.
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