BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuVitamin EAlpha-tocopherol; Gamma-tocopherolVitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin. Your body stores vitamin E in fatty tissue and the liver. Function Vitamin E has the following functions:It is an antioxidant. This means it protects body tissue from damage caused by substances called free radicals. Free radicals can harm cells, tissues, and organs. They are believed to play a role in certain conditions related to aging. It helps keep the immune system strong against viruses and bacteria. It helps form red blood cells and widen blood vessels to keep blood from clotting inside them. It helps the body use vitamin K. Vitamin KVitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin. Your body stores vitamin K in the liver and other body tissues, including the brain, heart, pancreas, and bone....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cells also use vitamin E to interact with each other. It helps them carry out many important functions.Determining whether vitamin E can prevent cancer, heart disease, dementia, liver disease, and stroke requires further research. Food Sources The best way to get the daily requirement of vitamin E is by eating food sources. Vitamin E is found in the following foods:Vegetable oils (such as wheat germ, sunflower, safflower, corn, and soybean oils) Nuts (such as almonds, peanuts, and hazelnuts/filberts) Seeds (such as sunflower seeds) Green leafy vegetables (such as spinach and broccoli) Fortified breakfast cereals, fruit juices, margarine, and spreads.Fortified means that vitamins have been added to the food. Check the Nutrition Fact Panel on the food label.Products made from these foods, such as margarine, also contain vitamin E. Side Effects Eating vitamin E in foods is not risky or harmful. However, high doses of vitamin E supplements (alpha-tocopherol supplements) might increase the risk of bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke).High levels of vitamin E may also increase the risk for birth defects. However, this needs more research.Low intake may lead to hemolytic anemia in premature babies.Hemolytic anemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Normally, red ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Recommendations Recommendations for vitamin E, as well as other nutrients, are provided in the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) developed by the Food and Nutrition Board at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. DRI is a term for a set of reference intakes that are used to plan and assess the nutrient intakes of healthy people. These values, which vary by age and sex, include:Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): The average daily level of intake that is enough to meet the nutrient needs of nearly all (97% to 98%) healthy people. An RDA is an intake level based on scientific research evidence.Adequate Intake (AI): This level is established when there is not enough scientific research evidence to develop an RDA. It is set at a level that is thought to ensure enough nutrition.Dietary reference intakes for vitamin E:Infants (AI)0 to 6 months: 4 milligrams per day (mg/day) 7 to 12 months: 5 mg/dayChildren (RDA)1 to 3 years: 6 mg/day 4 to 8 years: 7 mg/day 9 to 13 years: 11 mg/dayAdolescents and adults (RDA)14 and older: 15 mg/day Pregnant teens and women: 15 mg/day Breastfeeding teens and women: 19 mg/dayAsk your health care provider which amount is best for you.The highest safe level of vitamin E supplements for adults is 1000 mg/day (equal to 1,500 IU/day for natural forms of vitamin E, and 1,100 IU/day for the man-made or synthetic form).Open ReferencesReferencesMarkell M, Siddiqi HA. Vitamins and trace elements. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 27.Mason JB, Booth SL. Vitamins, trace minerals, and other micronutrients. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 205.National Institutes of Health website. Vitamin E: fact sheet for health professionals. ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-HealthProfessional/. Updated March 26, 2021. Accessed February 8, 2023.AllVideoImagesTogVitamin E benefit - illustration Vitamin E is an important nutrient that helps your body in a variety of ways. You should get enough from a healthy, balanced diet. The highest safe level of vitamin E supplements for adults is 1,500 IU/day for natural forms of vitamin E, and 1,000 IU/day (or 1,000 milligrams/day) for the man-made (synthetic) form.Vitamin E benefitillustrationVitamin E source - illustration Vitamin E is an important nutrient that you can get from a healthy, balanced diet. However, taking supplements at high amounts (400 IU) may be harmful.Vitamin E sourceillustrationVitamin E and heart disease - illustration There is no conclusive evidence that taking vitamin E supplements can reduce your risk of heart disease. In fact, taking vitamin E supplements may actually be harmful.Vitamin E and heart diseaseillustrationVitamin E benefit - illustration Vitamin E is an important nutrient that helps your body in a variety of ways. You should get enough from a healthy, balanced diet. The highest safe level of vitamin E supplements for adults is 1,500 IU/day for natural forms of vitamin E, and 1,000 IU/day (or 1,000 milligrams/day) for the man-made (synthetic) form.Vitamin E benefitillustrationVitamin E source - illustration Vitamin E is an important nutrient that you can get from a healthy, balanced diet. However, taking supplements at high amounts (400 IU) may be harmful.Vitamin E sourceillustrationVitamin E and heart disease - illustration There is no conclusive evidence that taking vitamin E supplements can reduce your risk of heart disease. In fact, taking vitamin E supplements may actually be harmful.Vitamin E and heart diseaseillustrationSelf Care Calcium, vitamin D, and your bones Tests for Vitamin E 25-hydroxy vitamin D testRelated Information Vitamin K(Nutrition)Vitamins and Phytonutrients - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 1/19/2023 Reviewed By: Stefania Manetti, RD/N, CDCES, RYT200, My Vita Sana LLC - Nourish and heal through food, San Jose, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. 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Vitamin EAlpha-tocopherol; Gamma-tocopherolVitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin. Your body stores vitamin E in fatty tissue and the liver. Function Vitamin E has the following functions:It is an antioxidant. This means it protects body tissue from damage caused by substances called free radicals. Free radicals can harm cells, tissues, and organs. They are believed to play a role in certain conditions related to aging. It helps keep the immune system strong against viruses and bacteria. It helps form red blood cells and widen blood vessels to keep blood from clotting inside them. It helps the body use vitamin K. Vitamin KVitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin. Your body stores vitamin K in the liver and other body tissues, including the brain, heart, pancreas, and bone....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cells also use vitamin E to interact with each other. It helps them carry out many important functions.Determining whether vitamin E can prevent cancer, heart disease, dementia, liver disease, and stroke requires further research. Food Sources The best way to get the daily requirement of vitamin E is by eating food sources. Vitamin E is found in the following foods:Vegetable oils (such as wheat germ, sunflower, safflower, corn, and soybean oils) Nuts (such as almonds, peanuts, and hazelnuts/filberts) Seeds (such as sunflower seeds) Green leafy vegetables (such as spinach and broccoli) Fortified breakfast cereals, fruit juices, margarine, and spreads.Fortified means that vitamins have been added to the food. Check the Nutrition Fact Panel on the food label.Products made from these foods, such as margarine, also contain vitamin E. Side Effects Eating vitamin E in foods is not risky or harmful. However, high doses of vitamin E supplements (alpha-tocopherol supplements) might increase the risk of bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke).High levels of vitamin E may also increase the risk for birth defects. However, this needs more research.Low intake may lead to hemolytic anemia in premature babies.Hemolytic anemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Normally, red ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Recommendations Recommendations for vitamin E, as well as other nutrients, are provided in the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) developed by the Food and Nutrition Board at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. DRI is a term for a set of reference intakes that are used to plan and assess the nutrient intakes of healthy people. These values, which vary by age and sex, include:Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): The average daily level of intake that is enough to meet the nutrient needs of nearly all (97% to 98%) healthy people. An RDA is an intake level based on scientific research evidence.Adequate Intake (AI): This level is established when there is not enough scientific research evidence to develop an RDA. It is set at a level that is thought to ensure enough nutrition.Dietary reference intakes for vitamin E:Infants (AI)0 to 6 months: 4 milligrams per day (mg/day) 7 to 12 months: 5 mg/dayChildren (RDA)1 to 3 years: 6 mg/day 4 to 8 years: 7 mg/day 9 to 13 years: 11 mg/dayAdolescents and adults (RDA)14 and older: 15 mg/day Pregnant teens and women: 15 mg/day Breastfeeding teens and women: 19 mg/dayAsk your health care provider which amount is best for you.The highest safe level of vitamin E supplements for adults is 1000 mg/day (equal to 1,500 IU/day for natural forms of vitamin E, and 1,100 IU/day for the man-made or synthetic form).Open ReferencesReferencesMarkell M, Siddiqi HA. Vitamins and trace elements. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 27.Mason JB, Booth SL. Vitamins, trace minerals, and other micronutrients. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 205.National Institutes of Health website. Vitamin E: fact sheet for health professionals. ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-HealthProfessional/. Updated March 26, 2021. Accessed February 8, 2023.