Vitamin E: How much should be used?

Vitamin E is key to healthy skin, eyes and immune system. In recent years, vitamin E supplementation as an antioxidant has become more and more known.

The hope that vitamin E as an antioxidant can help prevent or treat disease has prompted people to use vitamin E supplements. But in-depth studies on the role of vitamin E in prevention avoid certain diseases (such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, cataracts, and many others) that produce undesirable or controversial results.
Currently, vitamin E is really effective, especially for patients with vitamin E deficiency, but this number of patients is quite rare. Vitamin E deficiency often occurs in patients who already have other medical conditions, such as digestive abnormalities and cystic fibrosis. People who follow extremely low-fat diets may also have low vitamin E levels.

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) with vitamin E (sum of both routes: absorption from food and absorption from supplements) is as follows:
From 1 to 3 years old: 6 mg/day (~ 9 IU/day) 4 to 8 years old: 7 mg/day (~ 10.4 IU/day) 9 to 13 years old: 11 mg/day (~ 16.4 IU/day) 14 age and older: 15 mg/day (~ 22.4 IU/day) Pregnant women: 15 mg/day (~ 22.4 IU/day) Lactating women: 19 mg/day (~ 28, 5 IU/day) The safe limit for the maximum amount of vitamin E supplement that can be used varies by age as follows:
1 to 3 years old: no more than 200 mg/day (~300 IU/day) 4 to 8 years old: no more than 300 mg/day (~450 IU/day) 9 to 13 years old: no more than 600 mg/day (~900 IU/day) 14 to 18 years old: no more than 800 mg/day (~ 1200 IU/day) 19 years and older: no more than 1000 mg/day (~ 1500 IU/day). Cases of vitamin E deficiency can be supplemented with a higher dose, but must be prescribed by a specialist.
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, so a vitamin E supplement should be taken with meals.

Vitamin E is found in many different foods, and the average person when following a balanced diet will absorb the necessary amount of vitamin E from food. Vitamin E is found in foods such as:
Vegetable oils Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach Cereals and foods fortified with vitamin E Eggs Nuts.

In fact, the benefits and risks of using vitamin E are unclear and controversial. Long-term use of vitamin E supplements (over 10 years) is associated with an increased risk of stroke. In addition, an analysis based on clinical trials found that patients receiving natural or synthetic vitamin E at doses of 400 IU/day or more faced an increased risk of mortality from all causes, and the higher the dose of vitamin E, the greater the incidence. Cardiovascular studies also suggest that in patients with diabetes or cardiovascular disease, 400 IU/day natural vitamin E supplementation increases the incidence of heart failure and hospital-related heart failure.
Pregnant women in the early stages of pregnancy taking vitamin E supplements can harm the unborn baby. One study found that pregnant women who took vitamin E supplements during the first 8 weeks of pregnancy increased the risk of their unborn baby having a congenital heart defect 1.7 to 9 times. However, the exact dosage of vitamin E supplements used by the pregnant women in this study is unknown.
One large population study found that men taking a multivitamin more than seven times a week along with a separate vitamin E supplement significantly increased their risk of prostate cancer. line.
The American Heart Association recommends getting antioxidants, including vitamin E, from foods in a balanced diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. from supplements. The use of vitamin E supplements should be consulted or prescribed by a specialist.

Like other drugs, vitamin E also has some unwanted effects such as:
May cause skin irritation. Overdose of vitamin E can cause: nausea, vomiting, headache, bleeding, fatigue and many other symptoms Patients who are taking anticoagulants or other drugs need to consult and consult a doctor specialist before taking vitamin E supplements.

Article reference source: Webmd.com