Vitamin E is a vital and powerful antioxidant to support cardiovascular health, skin protection and healing, and helps support a healthy reproductive system for both men and women. See information below for more clinical indications.
Vitamin E also provides support for women during menopause and women who experience hot flashes and breast discomfort. Solgar uses only natural Vitamin E and includes mixed tocopherols for superior protective activity.
Vitamin E Features
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Essential antioxidant nutrient
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Skin health & healing
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Reproductive & cardiovascular health
Each Solgar Vitamin E 400IU capsule contains:
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Vitamin E (400iu as d-alpha tocopherol) 268mg
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Mixed Tocopherols 26mg
Dosage: As a food supplement for adults, one (1) 400iu softgel capsule daily, preferably at mealtime, or as directed.
For optimal cardiovascular support, I recommend that you take Vitamin E 400iu once daily, with lunch or dinner. Take also
HokiMega3 and between 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of
Daily-C each day.
Vitamin E
Antioxidant, stabilises cell membranes, inhibits platelet aggregation. Enhances immune function at moderate doses, but may inhibit immune function at high doses.
Clinical Indications:
Cardiovascular disease
Gynecological conditions
Fibrocystic breast disease
(600-800 IU/day): Results have been conflicting - uncontrolled trials showed minor to major benefit, whereas a 2-month double-blind trial showed little effect.
Premenstrual syndrome
Supplementation with 600 IU/day relieved symptoms of PMS in a double-blind study.
Menopausal hot flashes
Supplementation with 400-800 IU/day appears to be helpful. Improvement has been reported in several uncontrolled trials, whereas no benefit was found in controlled studies.
Dysmenorrhea (painful periods)
Supplementation with 150 IU/day for 2-3 menstrual cycles significantly reduced symptoms compared with placebo (double-blind trial).
Epilepsy(children)
In a double-blind trial, administration of 400 lU/day reduced seizure frequency by at least 60% in 10 of 12 children with epilepsy, whereas none of 12 children in the placebo group showed that degree of improvement.
Hepatitis (chronic)
Of 12 patients with hepatitis B treated with 600 IU/day of vitamin E for 9 months, 5 had a complete response, compared with none of 12 in an untreated control group. In 6 patients with hepatitis C refractory to interferon therapy, vitamin E (1,200 IU/day for 8 weeks) appeared to prevent hepatic fibrosis.
Restless legs syndrome and nocturnal leg cramps
400-800 IU/day is reportedly effective (uncontrolled trials).
Fibrotic conditions
(Dupuytren's contracture, Peyronie's disease)
300-2,000 IU/day for at least 6 months is said to be effective (uncontrolled trials and anecdotal reports).
Scleroderma
Orally administered vitamin E may relieve cutaneous (skin) (but not internal) manifestations of scleroderma (case reports).
Osteoarthritis
Vitamin E has a mild anti-inflammatory effect and has been shown to relieve symptoms in 2 short-term controlled trials that used 600 and 1,800 IU/day, respectively, but showed no effect in another controlled trial.
Infertility
Supplementation with 200 IU/day for the female, 100 IU/day for the male, improved the rate of live births in couples with a history of habitual abortion. Vitamin E (600 IU/day), in combination with selenium (100-200 mcg/day), improved sperm quality in infertile men (uncontrolled trials).
Autoimmune disease
Vitamin E may have value in the overall management of autoimmune disease, possibly by stabilising lysosomal membranes or by reducing the production of antigenic molecules such as oxidized LDL or glycosylated proteins (theoretical considerations and uncontrolled trials).
Osgood-Schlatter disease
Supplementation with 400 IU/day, in combination with selenium (200 mcg/day for 1 month, then 100 mcg/day), has been found to be helpful (clinical observation - Wright JV).
Dosage and Administration:
Vitamin E is listed in International Units (IU) and milligrams. The usual dosage range is between 100 up to 1,600 IU/day. Although alpha-tocopherol is the most common form of vitamin E used in supplements, supplements containing alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-tocopherol; will give superior results.
Gamma-tocopherol is more effective than alpha-tocopherol at inhibiting peroxynitrite-induced oxidation, a reaction that may play a role in the development of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Gammatocopherol also appears to have greater anti-inflammatory activity than does alpha-tocopherol. Supplementation with alpha-tocopherol alone reduces plasma and tissue concentrations of gamma-tocopherol. Therefore, the preferred form of vitamin E is "mixed tocopherols," which contain both alpha- and gamma-tocopherol. Solgar's Vitamin E contains the mixed tocopherols.
Drug Interaction of Vitamin E:
1. Phenothiazines: Vitamin E (800-1,600 IU/day) reduced the severity of tardive dyskinesia caused by phenothiazines (double-blind trials). Patients with tardive dyskinesia for more than 5 years did not respond.
2. AZT: Vitamin E may enhance the effectiveness of AZT and reduce its toxicity (in vitro study).
3. Warfarin: An early case report suggesting that vitamin E increases the activity of warfarin has been refuted by a controlled trial.
4. Vitamin E (300 IU/day) reduced the incidence of cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity (small, randomized trial; J Clin Oncol 2003;21:927-931). Vitamin E was begun 1-8 days prior to the start of chemotherapy and was continued for 3 months after the end of chemotherapy. In a study in mice, vitamin E did not inhibit the antitumor effect of cisplatin.
Nutrient Interactions:
Vitamin E and iron exert mutually inhibitory effects. Administration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (either omega-6 or omega-3) may increase the requirement for vitamin E. Vitamin E enhances the therapeutic effect of vitamin A, as well as some of the actions of selenium. So, eating deep fried foods and margarines (hydrogenated and saturated fats) may increase your need for Vitamin E.
Toxicity:
No significant toxicity has been reported with doses up to 3,200 IU/day. However, the long-term safety of high doses has not been studied. Vitamin E does not appear to raise blood pressure, contrary to early reports.
Eric's recommendation is to exercise "common sense" - caution is recommended with ANY vitamins, particularly when taken for long periods of time, sustained and in higher dosages. Please contact us if you are already taking, or desire to take a vitamin, particularly long term. See your health-care professional if symptoms persist.
For example - In a randomised trial, supplementation with 200 IU/day of vitamin E for 15 months increased the severity of acute respiratory-tract infections, compared with placebo, in certain elderly individuals. If in doubt - get expert advice.
