Vitamin E is a nutrient that's important to vision, reproduction, and the health of your blood, brain and skin.<br /><br />Vitamin E also has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are substances that might protect your cells against the effects of free radicals — molecules produced when your body breaks down food or is exposed to tobacco smoke and radiation. Free radicals might play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases. If you take vitamin E for its antioxidant properties, keep in mind that the supplement might not offer the same benefits as naturally occurring antioxidants in food.<br /><br />Foods rich in vitamin E include canola oil, olive oil, margarine, almonds and peanuts. You can also get vitamin E from meats, dairy, leafy greens and fortified cereals. Vitamin E is also available as an oral supplement in capsules or drops.<br /><br />Vitamin E deficiency can cause nerve pain (neuropathy).<br /><br />The recommended daily amount of vitamin E for adults is 15 milligrams a day.<br /><br />What the research says<br />Research on vitamin E use for specific conditions shows:<br /><br />Alzheimer's disease. Some research has shown that high-dose vitamin E might delay the progression of Alzheimer's disease in people who have been diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Other studies haven't shown this benefit. Vitamin E supplements appear to have no effect on whether people with mild cognitive impairment progress to Alzheimer's disease.<br />Liver disease. Studies show that vitamin E might improve symptoms of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. However, some evidence suggests that taking oral vitamin E for this purpose for two years is linked to insulin resistance.<br />Preeclampsia. Increasing your intake of vitamin E hasn't been shown to prevent this pregnancy condition that affects blood pressure.<br />Prostate cancer. Research shows that vitamin E and selenium supplements don't prevent prostate cancer. There is also concern that use of vitamin E supplements might increase the risk of prostate cancer.<br />Our take<br />Yellow light: Caution<br />Caution<br />Most people get enough vitamin E from a balanced diet. If you've been diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, some research suggests that vitamin E therapy might help slow disease progression.<br /><br />However, oral use of vitamin E might increase the risk of prostate cancer. Use of the supplement can pose other serious risks, particularly at high doses and if you have other health conditions or have had a heart attack or stroke.<br /><br />Safety and side effects<br />When taken at appropriate doses, oral use of vitamin E is generally considered safe. Rarely, oral use of vitamin E can cause:<br /><br />Nausea<br />Diarrhea<br />Intestinal cramps<br />Fatigue<br />Weakness<br />Headache<br />Blurred vision<br />Rash<br />Gonadal dysfunction<br />Increased concentration of creatine in the urine (creatinuria)<br />Taking higher doses of vitamin E might increase the risk of side effects. Also, there is concern that people in poor health who take high doses of vitamin E are at increased risk of death.
