Vitamin E
- Effective dose
- 15–15 mg
- Evidence
- 2/5· Emerging
Last updated June 1, 2026
What it is
Vitamin E is a group of fat-soluble compounds, of which alpha-tocopherol meets human needs, that act as antioxidants protecting cell membranes from oxidative damage. It also has roles in immune function and cell signaling.
Benefits
Vitamin E corrects deficiency and meets the 15 mg/day requirement, but large trials show no consistent benefit of high-dose supplements for heart disease or cancer prevention.
When to take it
Taken daily with a fat-containing meal to aid absorption; the 15 mg/day requirement is usually met by diet.
Side effects
High doses can impair blood clotting and raise hemorrhagic stroke risk; doses above 400 IU have been linked to higher all-cause mortality, and the SELECT trial found a 17% increase in prostate cancer. The adult upper limit is 1,000 mg/day, and large doses add bleeding risk with warfarin.
Sources
Products containing Vitamin E
No products in our database contain this ingredient yet.