Vitamin E

What is vitamin E used for?

Updated 10 Nov 2026

Short answer

Vitamin E is most studied for the heart, the liver, the eyes and the brain. Large trials found that it does not prevent heart disease or cancer, and the US Preventive Services Task Force advises against it for that use.[1][2]

The best evidence for a benefit is in people who already have a disease of the liver or the eyes (organ function). In fatty liver disease, a 2024 Cochrane review of 16 trials found that vitamin E likely lowers the liver enzymes ALT and AST slightly.[3] In intermediate macular degeneration, the AREDS formula slowed progression to late disease. It combined vitamin E with vitamin C, beta-carotene and zinc.[4] Vitamin E alone did not prevent macular degeneration.[5]

For memory, a 2017 Cochrane review found no effect on thinking in people with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease.[6] After exercise, a 2024 review of 20 trials in healthy people found no effect on muscle damage, soreness or strength.[7] An earlier 2022 review of 44 trials found lower levels of creatine kinase, a blood marker of muscle damage.[8] For period pain, 2 trials with 135 women found no effect.[9]

Sources (9)

  1. Vitamin and Mineral Supplements for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. O'Connor EA, Evans CV, Ivlev I, Rushkin MC, Thomas RG, Martin A, et al. JAMA, 2022. PMID 35727272
  2. Vitamin, Mineral, and Multivitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. Mangione CM, Barry MJ, Nicholson WK, Cabana M, Chelmow D, Coker TR, et al. JAMA, 2022. PMID 35727271
  3. Vitamin E for people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Wen H, Deng H, Yang L, Li L, Lin J, Zheng P, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2024. PMID 39412049
  4. Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration. Evans JR, Lawrenson JG Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2023. PMID 37702300
  5. Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for preventing age-related macular degeneration. Evans JR, Lawrenson JG Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2017. PMID 28756617
  6. Vitamin E for Alzheimer's dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Farina N, Llewellyn D, Isaac MGEKN, Tabet N Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2017. PMID 28418065
  7. Vitamin E Does not Favor Recovery After Exercises: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. de Lima KS, Schuch F, Righi NC, Neto LJR, Nunes GS, Puntel G, et al. Int J Sports Med, 2024. PMID 38346687
  8. Can Low-Dose of Dietary Vitamin E Supplementation Reduce Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage and Oxidative Stress? A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Kim M, Eo H, Lim JG, Lim H, Lim Y Nutrients, 2022. PMID 35458161
  9. Dietary supplements for dysmenorrhoea. Pattanittum P, Kunyanone N, Brown J, Sangkomkamhang US, Barnes J, Seyfoddin V, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2016. PMID 27000311

More about vitamin e

What is vitamin E?Which foods contain vitamin E?Who is at risk of vitamin E deficiency?Is vitamin E safe?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.