Introduction
Vitamin E is found in nuts, olive oil, and sunflower oil. The body uses vitamin E as an antioxidant to help fight damage to cells. Vitamin E can be taken as a pill and has been used to promote heart health. It has also been used to improve muscle and brain function.
Vitamin E can also be applied to the skin as an oil. It has been used to protect the skin from aging and damage from chemotherapy.
Dosages
400 milligrams 1 to 2 times daily
What Research Shows
Likely Effective
- Age-related cataract prevention—likely to lower the risk A1, A2
- Cervical cancer—likely to lower the risk of cervical cancer F1
- Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy—likely to prevent G1
- Diabetes —likely to improve blood glucose, blood fat, and insulin levels J1-J3
- Heart attack—likely to lower risk N1
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease—likely to improve liver function U1
May Be Effective
- Diabetic kidney disease—may improve early kidney damage K1
- Knee osteoarthritis—may improve pain and mobility P1
- Macular degeneration —may slow disease progression R1, R2
May Not Be Effective
Unlikely to Be Effective
- Cardiovascular disease —unlikely to prevent E1-E3
- Helicobacter pylori infection—unlikely to ease infection O1
- Pre-eclampsia —unlikely to prevent V1
- Pregnancy Support —unlikely to promote health of the fetus W1
- Stroke —unlikely to prevent X1
Not Enough Data to Assess
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Safety Notes
It is likely safe to use vitamin E on the skin and to take it orally in small doses for a short time. Doses higher than 1000 milligrams per day may not be safe. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to use for a long period. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid high doses of vitamin E.
Interactions
Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.
References
REFA Age-Related Cataracts
REFA1 Mathew MC, Ervin AM, et al. Antioxidant vitamin supplementation for preventing and slowing the progression of age-related cataract. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Jun 13;(6):CD004567.
REFA2 Zhang Y, Jiang W, et al. Vitamin E and risk of age-related cataract: a meta-analysis. Public Health Nutr. 2015 Oct;18(15):2804-2814.
REFB Alzheimer Disease
REFB1 Farina N, Llewellyn D, et al. Vitamin E foe Alzheimer’s dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;1:CD002854.
REFC Asthma
REFC1 Wilkinson M, Hart A, et al. Vitamins C and E for asthma and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(6):CD010749.
REFC2 Wu H, Zhang C, et al. Does vitamin E prevent asthma or wheeze in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Paediatr Respir Rev. 2018 Jun;27:60-68.
REFD Atopic Eczema
REFD1 Bath-Hextall FJ, Jenkinson C, et al. Dietary supplements for established atopic eczema. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Feb 15;(2):CD005205.
REFE Cardiovascular Disease
REFE1 Vivekananthan DP, Pann MS, et al. Use of antioxidant vitamins for the prevention of cardiovascular disease: meta-analysis of randomised trials. Lancet. 2003;361(8374):2017-2023.
REFE2 Shekelle PG, Morton SC, et al. Effect of supplemental vitamin E for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. J Gen Intern Med. 2004;19(4):380-389.
REFE3 Myung SK, Ju W, et al. Efficacy of vitamin and antioxidant supplements in prevention of cardiovascular disease: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ. 2013 Jan 18;346:f10.
REFF Cervical Cancer
REFF1 Hu X, Li S, et al. Effect of vitamin E supplementation on uterine cervical neoplasm: A meta-analysis of case-control studies. PLoS One. 2017 Aug 22;12(8):e0183395.
REFG Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
REFG1 Eum S, Choi HD, et al. Protective effects of vitamin E on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2013;83(2):101-111.
REFH Cognitive Function
REFH1 Rutjes AW, Denton DA, et al. Vitamin and mineral supplementation for maintaining cognitive function in cognitively healthy people in mid and late life. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Dec 17;12:CD011906.
REFI Cystic Fibrosis
REFI1 Okebukola PO, Kansra S, et al. Vitamin E supplementation in people with cystic fibrosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;3:CD009422.
REFJ Diabetes
REFJ1 Suksomboon N, Poolsup N, et al. Effects of vitamin E supplementation on glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes: systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2011 Feb;36(1):53-63.
REFJ2 Xu R, Zhang S, et al. Influence of vitamin E supplementation on glycaemic control: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. PLoS One. 2014;9(4):e95008.
REFJ3 Khodaeian M, Tabatabaei-Malazy O, et al. Effect of vitamins C and E on insulin resistance in diabetes: a meta-analysis study. Eur J Clin Invest. 2015 Nov;45(11):1161-1174.
REFK Diabetic Kidney Disease
REFK1 Bolignano D, Cernaro V, et al. Antioxidant agents for delaying diabetic kidney disease progression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2017 Jun 1;12(6):e0178699.
REFL Dysmenorrhea
REFL1 Pattanittum P, Kunyanone N, et al. Dietary supplements for dysmenorrhoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Mar 22;3:CD002124.
REFM Female Subfertility
REFM1 Showell MG, Mackenzie-Proctor R, et al. Antioxidants for female subfertility. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Jul 28;7:CD007807.
REFN Heart Attack
REFN1 Loffredo L, Perri L, et al. Supplementation with vitamin E is associated with reduced myocardial infraction: a meta-analysis. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2015;25(4):354-363.
REFO Helicobacter Pylori Infection
REFO1 Li G, Li L, et al. Effect of vitamins C and E supplementation on Helicobacter pylori eradication: a meta-analysis. Br J Nutr. 2011 Dec;106(11):1632-1637.
REFP Knee Osteoarthritis
REFP1 Tantavisut S, Tanavalee A, et al. Effect of vitamin E on oxidative stress level in blood, synovial fluid, and synovial tissue in severe knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2017;18(1):281.
REFQ Liver Disease
REFQ1 Bjelakovic G, Gluud LL, et al. Antioxidant supplements for liver diseases. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Mar 16;(3):CD007749.
REFR Macular Degeneration
REFR1 Evans JR, Lawrenson JG. Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for preventing age-related macular degeneration. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Jul 30;7:CD000253.
REFR2 Evans JR, Lawrenson JG. Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Jul 31;7:CD000254.
REFS Mild Cognitive Impairment
REFS1 McCleery J, Abraham RP, et al. Vitamin and mineral supplementation for preventing dementia or delaying cognitive decline in people with mild cognitive impairment. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Nov 1;11:CD011905.
REFT Miscarriage
REFT1 Balogun OO, da Silva Lopes K, et al. Vitamin supplementation for preventing miscarriage. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 May 6;(5):CD004073.
REFU Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
REFU1 Sato K, Gosho M, et al. Vitamin E has a beneficial effect on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrition. 2015;31(7-8):923-930.
REFV Pre-eclampsia
REFV1 Conde-Agudelo A, Romero R, et al. Supplementation with vitamins C and E during pregnancy for the prevention of preeclampsia and other adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes: a systematic review and metaanalysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Jun;204(6):503.e1-12.
REFW Pregnancy Support
REFW1 Rumbold A, Ota E, et al. Vitamin E supplementation in pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(9):CD004069.
REFX Stroke
REFX1 Bin Q, Hu X, et al. The role of vitamin E (tocopherol) supplementation in the prevention of stroke. A meta-analysis of 13 randomised controlled trials. Thromb Haemost. 2011 Apr;105(4):579-585.
REFY Tardive Dyskinesia
REFY1 Soares-Weiser K, Maayan N, et al. Vitamin E for antipsychotic-induced tardive dyskinesia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;1:CD000209.