Overview
What is vitamin E?
What are vitamin E’s main benefits?
What are vitamin E’s main drawbacks?
How does vitamin E work?
Dosage information
Formulation:
Tablets typically containing alpha-tocopherol.
Range of dosages studied:
7 to 1,400 milligrams per day or 16.5 to 3111 international units (IU) per day.
Effective Dosages:
Adults: The effective dosage for improving TNF-Alpha and CRP is 500–700 mg/day (1,111–1,555 IU/day), by mouth, for at least 8 weeks.[2]
Special considerations: It is currently uncertain whether the effect of reducing TNF-Alpha and CRP leads to improved health outcomes.[2]
Adults: The effective dosage for improving AST and ALT (particularly in people with NAFLD) is 180–360 mg/day (400–800 IU/day), by mouth, for at least 1 month.[3][4]
Special considerations: It is currently uncertain whether the effect of reducing liver enzymes in people with NAFLD leads to improved health outcomes.[4]
Other Considerations:
- Supplementation with high-dose vitamin E has several adverse effects. For further details, see What are vitamin E’s main drawbacks?.
- Vitamin E has several drug interactions: aspirin, warfarin, tamoxifen, and cyclosporine A.[5][6] If you use these medications, consult your doctor before taking a vitamin E supplement.
- The absorption of vitamin E is impaired in people with conditions affecting bile acid production. If you have such conditions, consult your doctor before taking a vitamin E supplement.[7]
What is the recommended dietary allowance for vitamin E?
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin E is as follows:[8]
| Age | RDA Male | RDA Female | RDA Pregnancy | RDA Lactation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–6 months | 4 mg/day* | 4 mg/day* | - | - |
| 6–12 months | 5 mg/day* | 5 mg/day* | - | - |
| 1–3 years | 6 mg/day | 6 mg/day | - | - |
| 4–8 years | 7 mg/day | 7 mg/day | - | - |
| 9–13 years | 11 mg/day | 11 mg/day | - | - |
| 14–18 years | 15 mg/day | 15 mg/day | 15 mg/day | 19 mg/day |
| 19+ years | 15 mg/day | 15 mg/day | 15 mg/day | 19 mg/day |
*Please note that the data for infants aged 0–12 months are adequate intake (AI) values, not RDA values.
What is the tolerable upper intake level for vitamin E?
The tolerable upper intake level (UL) for vitamin E is as follows:[8]
| Age | UL Male | UL Female | UL Pregnancy | UL Lactation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–6 months | not defined | not defined | - | - |
| 6–12 months | not defined | not defined | - | - |
| 1–3 years | 200 mg/day | 200 mg/day | - | - |
| 4–8 years | 300 mg/day | 300 mg/day | - | - |
| 9–13 years | 600 mg/day | 600 mg/day | - | - |
| 14–18 years | 800 mg/day | 800 mg/day | 800 mg/day | 800 mg/day |
| 19+ years | 1,000 mg/day | 1,000 mg/day | 1,000 mg/day | 1,000 mg/day |
Frequently asked questions
What is vitamin E deficiency?
What are other names for Vitamin E?
Update History
All new FAQs were added to this page.
