Vitamin E Functions

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role as an antioxidant. It protects vitamins A and C, red blood cells, and essential fatty acids from being destroyed by free radicals, which are unstable substances in the environment and in the body. Vitamin E also helps form red blood cells and helps the body use vitamin K.

Vitamin E has also been shown to play a role in immune function and repair of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), a set of instructions for our genes.

Vitamin E might also play a role in heart healthy by preventing oxidation of bad low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and unhealthy plaque buildup in coronary arteries.

Dietary Sources

Vitamin E is not found abundantly in the diet, although some foods, including vegetable oils, green leafy vegetables, and nuts are natural sources. Some foods are also fortified with vitamin E.

Vitamin E is listed as IUs on food labels and dietary supplement packages. One milligram (mg) of alpha-tocopherol, the form of vitamin E found abundantly in the body, equals 1.49 IUs.

Vitamin E deficiency is rare, mostly only among premature infants and people who cannot absorb dietary fat (such as those with cystic fibrosis). They can experience symptoms such as muscle weakness, balance problems, and impaired vision.

Too much vitamin E can decrease the availability of or interfere with the body’s use of other fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, and K). Symptoms can include nausea and problems with the digestive tract.

Although the upper limit for vitamin E is 1,000 IU, in 2004, the American Heart Association warned that consuming more than 400 IU of vitamin E from supplements can cause harm and increase death risk.

Those who take blood-thinning medications or statins such as Coumadin should speak with their physician before taking vitamin E supplements because they can interfere with the effectiveness of their medications or be harmful.

Essential fatty acids are fatty acids the body needs to obtain from the diet because it cannot make any or enough of them to meet the body’s needs.