Vitamin E has eight different forms:
· Alpha-tocopherol
· Beta-tocopherol
· Delta-tocopherol
· Gamma-tocopherol
· Alpha-tocotrienol
· Beta-tocotrienol
· Delta-tocotrienol
· Gamma-tocotrienol
The most active form of Vitamin E in humans is alpha-tocopherol.
Vitamin E occurs naturally in foods but is also available in manmade supplements. Natural forms have the letter “d” in front of them while synthetics are labeled “dl.”
In western civilizations, there is rarely a Vitamin E deficit in the diet. That is why anyone contemplating taking it as a supplement should consult a doctor before beginning a regimen. High doses of Vitamin E have an increased risk of bleeding with people who take blood-thinning drugs or have a Vitamin K deficiency. There is also research suggesting that Vitamin E supplements may increase the risk of death from all causes by incremental amounts.
There are numerous foods that contain the nutrient. These include fortified cereals, fruit, green, leafy vegetables, eggs, nuts, meat, nut oils, vegetable oils (including corn, safflower, cottonseed, soybean and sunflower), olive oil, wheat germ oil and whole grains. While cooking and long periods of storage may degrade some of the vitamin power, it generally will retain most of it.
Most people get sufficient amounts of Vitamin E from the wide-ranging list of foods that contain it. Some with intestinal disorders or who have been on very low-fat diets may need to take supplements. Doctors recommend that adults should have a daily intake of 15 milligrams (or 22.5 IU), an amount that pregnant women of any age should also aim to ingest. Breastfeeding women require 19 milligrams (28.5 IU). However, for all adults and pregnant and breastfeeding women, the maximum daily dosage should be limited to 1,000 milligrams (1,500 IU).
Benefits of Vitamin E
Research studies have yielded scant evidence that Vitamin E has any role in disease prevention or treatment. Researchers have studied Vitamin E’s role in combatting diabetes, foot ulcers, fatty liver disease, age-related macular degeneration, allergies, altitude sickness, ALS, anemia and many more.
Some believe it can prevent scars, but there is not much evidence in support of that notion. There is a risk of skin allergies from topical applications, so there are cautionary advisories against its use in that regard.
Despite a lack of evidence, there are some researchers and medical professionals who believe supplements help with certain conditions. In those cases, they recommend supplements to the diet -- some for weeks at a time, others for several years.
Doctors use vitamin E supplements with diseases such as macular degeneration, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, clogged arteries, heart disease, and breast and other forms of cancer. It is also used to help people overcome the side effects of chemotherapy.
The basis for the continued recommendation and use of Vitamin E is that the vitamin acts as an antioxidant. Some believe that those properties help to protect body tissue from damages caused by substances known as free radicals. These free radicals cause harm to tissues, cells and body organs. All of the deterioration is believed to be a part of natural aging. Because Vitamin E is known to bolster the immune system against invading bacteria and viruses, researchers hope to unlock other protections from its use.
One other benefit is that Vitamin E is important in red blood cell formation and helps the body process Vitamin K. It is believed that Vitamin E helps widen blood vessels and stops the clotting process.
But whether Vitamin E is a magic bullet that can stop or battle cancer, heart disease, dementia, liver disease and other major problems is still up for debate and requires further long-term research as to its benefits.
While there are some medical professionals and researchers who believe there are vast benefits of taking Vitamin E in quantities higher the doses that can be obtained from food, there are an equal number of cautions against overdosing on it.
Most doctors and other medical professionals believe that healthy adults can tolerate doses up to 800 IU taken orally each day for up to four months. Anything more than that is uncertain, and over-zealous people have been known to take more than recommended doses. The Food and Drug Administration does not evaluate supplements' efficacy and safety, so it may be possible to take larger amounts of Vitamin E without knowing.
A number of people have had skin reactions, sensitivities or allergies to products that have a large concentration of Vitamin E. Applying topical solutions containing Vitamin E can lead to itching and inflammation.
For those with diabetes and for those already taking medications to lower blood sugar, Vitamin E supplements in those doses are probably safe.
Vitamin E is possibly safe in people with diabetes or those using agents that lower blood sugar. However, smokers and those with Alzheimer’s disease or other signs of mental decline, existing heart problems and those with kidney issues should use caution.
In excessive doses, doctors warn that Vitamin E may cause blurred vision, cholesterol issues, diarrhea, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, headache, fainting, high blood pressure, nausea, sexual dysfunction, stomach pain, vision loss and weakness, among other issues.
Finally, those taking aspirin, anticoagulants like Warfarin (Coumadin) or heparin, drugs like Plavix, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen (sold as Motrin, Advil and other brand names) should use caution -- Vitamin E can increase the risk of bleeding.
Much research needs to be done before the debate over the risks vs. benefits of Vitamin E are determined. For now, most adults should focus on a healthy diet and consult a doctor before adding Vitamin E supplements to their daily intake.