Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for the proper function of many organs in the body. It is an antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative stress and supports the immune system. Vitamin E is found in many foods, including vegetable oils, cereals, meat, poultry, eggs, and fruits. It is also available in supplement forms, such as oil.
Here are some positive and negative aspects of vitamin E:
Positive:
- Vitamin E is important for maintaining healthy skin.
- It helps widen blood vessels and keep blood from clotting within them.
- Some studies link higher intakes of vitamin E from supplements to lower chances of developing coronary heart disease.
Negative:
- High doses of vitamin E supplements may increase the risk of mortality.
- The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends against the use of vitamin E supplements for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer.
The eight different forms of vitamin E include alpha-tocopherol, beta-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, and other forms. Naturally sourced vitamin E is called RRR-alpha-tocopherol (commonly labeled as d-alpha-tocopherol). Synthetic (laboratory-made) vitamin E is commonly listed as "dl-alpha-tocopherol". If you are looking for a pure vitamin E oil, it should only have one ingredient listed: the form of vitamin E that is used.
