Vitamin EIs vitamin E safe?
Short answer
Vitamin E from food is safe: no harm from large amounts in food has been found.[1] The risks come from high-dose supplements. The US upper limit for supplements is 1,000 mg a day for adults, and the EU limit from all sources is 300 mg a day. Both are set to avoid bleeding.[1][2]
A 2010 review of trials found 22% more hemorrhagic strokes, strokes caused by bleeding in the brain, with vitamin E.[3] A 2024 review found this only when vitamin E was taken with other antioxidants.[4] In healthy men, 400 IU a day raised the risk of prostate cancer by 17%.[5] Large doses can add to the effect of blood thinners.[1] In pregnancy, vitamin E with other supplements did not prevent pre-eclampsia, preterm birth or stillbirth.[6] People who take a blood thinner or other medicines every day should ask a doctor or pharmacist first.[1]
Sources (6)
- Vitamin E: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. ods.od.nih.gov
- Scientific opinion on the tolerable upper intake level for vitamin E. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2024. efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
- Effects of vitamin E on stroke subtypes: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Schürks M, Glynn RJ, Rist PM, Tzourio C, Kurth T BMJ, 2010. PMID 21051774
- Vitamin E supplementation (alone or with other antioxidants) and stroke: a meta-analysis. Maggio E, Bocchini VP, Carnevale R, Pignatelli P, Violi F, Loffredo L Nutr Rev, 2024. PMID 37698992
- Vitamin E and the risk of prostate cancer: the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT). Klein EA, Thompson IM Jr, Tangen CM, Crowley JJ, Lucia MS, Goodman PJ, et al. JAMA, 2011. PMID 21990298
- Vitamin E supplementation in pregnancy. Rumbold A, Ota E, Hori H, Miyazaki C, Crowther CA Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2015. PMID 26343254
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?Does vitamin E prevent heart disease?Does vitamin E help fatty liver disease?For education; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change a supplement.