Vitamin E

Alpha-tocopherol, tocopheryl

Description

Vitamin E is a liposoluble vitamin that accumulates in fat. It plays a role in the formation of red blood cells and helps to maintain a healthy reproductive system and reduce platelet adhesion. Vitamin E is an antioxidant and is therefore involved in preventing tissue damage.

Sources

The best sources of vitamin E are certain vegetable oils, margarine, seeds, nuts, peanuts, green leafy vegetables and whole grains. It is also found in fruit, eggs and fish.

Approximate Vitamin E Content
 Food  Portion  Content
 Almonds 28 g 11.1 IU
 Avocado 28 g 1.1 IU
 Broccoli, raw 250 mL 5.6 IU
 Canola oil 15 mL 3.7 IU
 Corn oil 15 mL 2.9 IU
 Hazelnuts 28 6.4 IU
 Mango 1 3.5 IU
 Food  Portion  Content
 Margarine 15 mL 1.9 IU
 Olive Oil 15 mL 2.9 IU
 Red peppers, raw 250 mL 3.5 IU
 Safflower oil 15 mL 7 IU
 Spinach, cooked 250 mL 5.6 IU
 Sunflower seeds 28 g 11.1 IU
 Tomato 1 1 IU

Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA)

Recommended average daily nutrient intake that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97 to 98%) healthy individuals in each age and gender group. The RDA should only be used as a guide for daily individual intake.

Vitamin E Requirements
 Age  Men   Women 
 1-3 years 9 IU 9 IU
 4-8 years 10.5 IU 10.5 IU
 9-13 years 16.5 IU 16.5 IU
 14-18 years 22.5 IU 22.5 IU
 Age  Men   Women 
 19-50 years 22.5 IU 22.5 IU
 > 50 years 22.5 IU 22.5 IU
 Pregnancy    
 Breastfeeding   +6 IU

Deficiency

Vitamin E deficiency can lead to anemia caused by the destruction of red blood cells, muscle atrophy, neurological disorders, edema, dry skin and sterility.

Toxicity

Doses that exceed 1200 IU per day may be responsible for certain adverse events such as headache, diarrhea, fatigue, increased blood pressure, nausea and blurred vision. Furthermore, reduced coagulation can lead to excessive bleeding.

Supplements

When selecting a supplement, it is advisable to choose natural vitamin E since the synthetic version consists of various forms of vitamin E, some of which are scarcely used by the body. Regular doses of 200 to 400 IU are considered safe.

Although proof of efficacy is limited, vitamin E may in fact reduce the risk of cancer, arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes.

It could also help manage diabetes. High doses of vitamin E may reduce blood coagulation and should be avoided by those taking warfarin (Coumadin®).

Watch what you eat. Nutrition has a significant impact on health!