Other issues of Nutrition Advisor

Give me an "E!"

Most of us have heard that taking vitamins may promote health and wellness, but did you ever wonder if there are any negative side effects?

Vitamin E, in particular, has recently been in the news due to the controversy on the amount recommended for health benefits. Vitamin E is best known for its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are compounds that protect the body from “free radicals,” the by-products of energy metabolism that can damage cells and contribute to the development of diseases such as heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. The chart below describes some of the potential health benefits of vitamin E.

Potential health benefits of vitamin E

Possible risks of vitamin E supplements
In the past, the most commonly recommended dose of Vitamin E was 400 IU (268 milligrams) a day. Current research is showing that this amount may be dangerous. A recent study conducted by John Hopkins University analyzed the results of 19 studies involving nearly 136,000 people taking vitamin E supplements. They found that individuals taking doses at or above 400 IU daily had a higher death rate compared to those not taking vitamin E supplements.

Another study showed that antioxidant supplements, including vitamin E, reduced the beneficial effect of certain cholesterol-lowering medications on blood cholesterol levels.

How much should I take?
The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for vitamin E is 15 milligrams a day. At this time, the American Heart Association discourages the use of high dose vitamin E supplements and promotes obtaining it from food sources. Refer to the chart below for a list of foods rich in vitamin E.

If you do choose to use supplements, please discuss this with your medical doctor before doing so.

How much vitamin E is in food?

Source: US Dept of Agriculture nutrient database

The Yale-New Haven Nutrition Advisor is created by registered dietitians and dietetic interns who staff the Nutrition Clinic at Yale-New Haven Hospital. For information, contact the Nutrition InfoLine at (203) 688-2422.

For more information on this topic, see

• Vitamin E supplements may be harmful, Summaries for patients, Annals of Internal Medicine, January 4, 2005
• Meta-analysis: High-dosage v itamin E supplementation may increase all-cause mortality, Annals of Internal Medicine , v. 142, January 4, 2005 (pdf file)
• Simvastatin and niacin, antioxidant vitamins or the combination for the prevention of coronary disease, New England Journal of Medicine, v. 345, no. 22, November 29, 2001 (pdf file)
• Vitamin E, Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health
• High doses of vitamin E supplements do more harm than good, American Heart Association, November 10, 2004
• Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial, National Cancer Institute
• Effects of vitamin E on cardiovascular and microvascular outcomes in high-risk patients with diabetes, Diabetes Care, v. 25, no. 11, November 2002

Other issues addressed by Yale-New Haven Nutrition Advisor:

• Revising the ABCs of good health: The new 2005 dietary guidelines
• Demystifying the glycemic index
• Nutrition 101 for students away from home
• All fats are not created equal
• The whole truth about whole grains
• Alzheimer’s disease and diet
• Does fast food have to equal fat food?
• The truth about trans fats
• Understanding yogurt
• Thinking about going low-carb?
• What's to drink?
• Obesity—it's not just for grown-ups anymore
• Fruits and vegetables: Always in season
• Calcium: Not just for bones anymore!
• Mercury Rising
• A powerful B vitamin: Folate
• Vegging out
• Manic for organic
• Beta carotene
• Archive

Last revised: April 12, 2005 (mv)

Home page URL: http://www.ynhh.org

All information is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen.