Vitamin EDoes vitamin E help the immune system?
Updated 10 Nov 2026
Short answer
In older adults, single trials found some effects on the immune system. In 88 healthy people aged 65 or older, 200 mg a day for 235 days raised a skin test of immune response by 65%, against 17% with placebo. It also raised the antibody response to a hepatitis B vaccine 6-fold, against 3-fold with placebo.[1] In 617 nursing home residents, 200 IU a day for 1 year did not change the number of respiratory infections. Fewer people caught at least one upper respiratory infection: 44% against 52%.[2]
These are single trials in older people. In the first trial, 800 mg a day raised the skin test by 49%, less than 200 mg did.[1]
Sources (2)
- Vitamin E supplementation and in vivo immune response in healthy elderly subjects. A randomized controlled trial. Meydani SN, Meydani M, Blumberg JB, Leka LS, Siber G, Loszewski R, et al. JAMA, 1997. PMID 9134944
- Vitamin E and respiratory tract infections in elderly nursing home residents: a randomized controlled trial. Meydani SN, Leka LS, Fine BC, Dallal GE, Keusch GT, Singh MF, et al. JAMA, 2004. PMID 15315997
More about vitamin e
What is vitamin E?Which foods contain vitamin E?What is vitamin E used for?Who is at risk of vitamin E deficiency?Is vitamin E safe?Does vitamin E prevent heart disease?For education; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change a supplement.