NOW Foods Vitamin E-400 with 20% Mixed Tocopherols & Selenium (100 Softgels)
NOW Foods Vitamin E-400 combines pure, plant-derived natural d-alpha tocopherol with a complete family of mixed tocopherols and essential selenium yeast. This balanced formula delivers 268 mg (400 IU) of natural vitamin E and 100 mcg of selenium in every single softgel to defend your cell membranes against daily oxidation [1]. By teaming natural vitamin E with selenium, this supplement supports heart health, cellular energy, and immune strength without synthetic chemicals or cheap fillers.
Quick Specs Snapshot
✓Active Form & Potency: 268 mg (400 IU) natural d-alpha tocopherol, 48 mg mixed tocopherols, and 100 mcg selenium yeast per softgel.
✓Primary Cellular Target: Shields the fatty outer walls of your cells and activates glutathione peroxidase antioxidant enzymes [3].
✓Supply & Value: 100 softgels provide a full 100-day supply (over 3 months) of daily protection for pennies a day.
✓Formulation Purity: Non-GMO, BSE-free bovine gelatin, titanium dioxide-free, packaged in an eco-friendly 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin bottle.
Buyer's Guide: Natural vs. Synthetic Vitamin E
Not all vitamin E is the same. Many cheap supermarket supplements use synthetic "dl-alpha" tocopherol made from petrochemicals, which is only half as active in human tissue because your liver cannot hold onto it [1, 4]. NOW uses 100% natural d-alpha tocopherol paired with d-beta, d-gamma, and d-delta tocopherols to mirror the broad antioxidant balance found in whole foods [2].
Ideal For Shoppers Who:
✓Want full-spectrum natural vitamin E with gamma-tocopherol to target both oxygen and nitrogen free radicals [2].
✓Want the dual protection of selenium to help recharge your body's master antioxidant systems [3].
✓Value rigorous independent laboratory testing over unverified generic brands.
Consider Another Option If:
✗You have a severe allergy to soy, as this product uses soybean oil and soy lecithin as natural carriers.
✗You already take a standalone multivitamin with high levels of selenium (over 100 mcg daily).
✗You require a 100% vegan capsule, as this formula uses BSE-free bovine gelatin for maximum oil stability.
Risk-Free Assurance from VitaNet®, LLC: Every bottle is backed by our unconditional 100% money-back guarantee—we even cover the return shipping if you are not fully satisfied, even on opened bottles.
How It Works: Cellular Pathways & Antioxidant Defense
Your body is made of trillions of cells, and every single cell is wrapped in a delicate membrane made of fats. Normal breathing, exercise, and digestion create unstable molecules called free radicals (such as superoxide, O2•−, and hydroxyl radicals). Think of free radicals like sparks flying off a campfire. If left unchecked, these sparks cause lipid peroxidation—a chain reaction that damages the cell wall.
Vitamin E acts like a fire shield for your cells [1]. Because it dissolves in fat, natural d-alpha tocopherol parks itself directly inside your cell membranes. When a free radical attacks, vitamin E takes the hit, neutralizing the spark before your cell wall can be damaged [4].
However, once a vitamin E molecule catches a free radical, it becomes oxidized and temporarily inactive. That is where selenium enters the picture:
✓Glutathione Peroxidase Activation: Selenium is the vital building block for an enzyme called glutathione peroxidase (GPx) [3]. This enzyme neutralizes harmful hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into harmless water (H2O) inside your cells.
✓Antioxidant Recycling Relay: By clearing out cellular peroxides, selenium takes the burden off vitamin E, allowing your cellular defense systems to keep working efficiently [3].
✓Gamma-Tocopherol Trapping: While alpha-tocopherol stops oxygen radicals, gamma-tocopherol has a unique chemical shape that traps reactive nitrogen species (such as nitrogen dioxide, NO2), protecting sensitive proteins and blood vessels [2].
Daily Dosing, Timing, & What to Expect
Optimal Timing & Meal Pairing
Take 1 softgel daily with a meal that contains healthy dietary fats (such as eggs, olive oil, avocado, or yogurt). Because vitamin E is fat-soluble, your stomach and liver require dietary fats to release bile salts. These bile salts form tiny bubbles called micelles that carry the vitamin E through your intestinal wall and into your bloodstream [4]. Taking it on an empty stomach can significantly reduce how much your body absorbs.
Circadian Routine & Smart Spacing Rules
Most people prefer taking their single softgel with breakfast or lunch. Pair it with water-soluble vitamin C for extra antioxidant synergy, as vitamin C helps regenerate spent vitamin E on the outer edges of cells. If you take an inorganic iron supplement or fat-blocking supplements (like chitosan), space them at least 2 hours apart, as high-dose iron can oxidize vitamin E before it can be absorbed.
Timeline of Expectations
Week 1: Your digestive system absorbs the natural oils, and your liver begins distributing natural d-alpha tocopherol throughout your bloodstream via lipoproteins [1].
Weeks 3–4: Vitamin E and selenium reach steady concentrations within your tissues and red blood cell membranes, supporting active glutathione peroxidase levels [3].
Months 2–3+: Long-term protection for blood vessels, heart tissue, and cellular membranes against daily metabolic stress.
Delivery Format & Swallowability: This formula comes in a smooth, oval-shaped softgel. The slick bovine gelatin shell glides down easily with a glass of water, making it comfortable to swallow even for people who dislike dry, chalky tablets.
Natural Aroma, Taste & Color: The softgel is dark amber-brown because it contains natural carob. Carob acts as a natural sunblock to guard the delicate tocopherol oils against light damage. The softgels are virtually odorless and leave no lingering aftertaste. Natural color variations can happen from batch to batch, which is a normal hallmark of pure botanical and yeast sources.
Other Ingredients Demystified
Bovine Gelatin (BSE-Free): High-purity, certified BSE-free beef gelatin that forms the protective outer capsule shell.
Glycerin & Water: Natural plant-derived vegetable glycerin keeps the softgel shell supple so it will not become brittle or leak.
Carob: A natural, roasted legume pod extract that provides safe, dark pigmentation to shield light-sensitive oils. Contains zero titanium dioxide.
Soybean Oil & Soy Lecithin: Healthy food-grade carrier oils that keep the fat-soluble tocopherols dissolved and easily absorbable in your digestive tract.
Beeswax: A natural wax that gently suspends the selenium yeast inside the oil, preventing settling.
Storage & Packaging: Keep tightly closed in a cool, dry place after opening. Do not refrigerate, as moisture can soften the gelatin shell. The bottle is manufactured from 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin to reduce environmental plastic waste.
Supplement Facts & NOW® Lab Testing Verification
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 Softgel | Servings Per Container: 100
Ingredient Description
Amount Per Serving
% Daily Value
Vitamin E (as d-alpha Tocopherol)
268 mg (400 IU)
1787%
Selenium (from Selenium Yeast)
100 mcg
182%
Mixed Tocopherols (d-beta, d-gamma, d-delta)
48 mg
†
† Daily Value not established.
Other Ingredients: Softgel Capsule [bovine gelatin (BSE-free), glycerin, water, carob], Soybean Oil, Beeswax, and Soy Lecithin. Contains soy. Allergen Verification: Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut, or sesame ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
NOW® In-House Lab Testing & Contaminant Controls
Many generic and big-box store vitamin brands act as marketing middlemen that outsource their bottling without checking for rancidity or heavy metals. NOW® is different. They operate one of the most advanced private analytical testing complexes in the nutritional industry, performing more than 19,000 analytical tests every month in their ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories.
✓Heavy Metal Screening (ICP-MS): Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry tests every lot for toxic heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury) down to parts per billion (ppb).
✓Microbiological & Solvent Purity: Rigorous screening guarantees the raw materials are free from microbial pathogens, yeast, mold, and pesticide residues.
Curator's Quality Note from VitaNet®, LLC
Founded in 1995 as a family-owned, independent Ohio retailer, VitaNet®, LLC has spent over 31 years vetting nutritional manufacturers. We personally inspect our partner brands to ensure what is on the label matches what is in the softgel. Backed by our BBB A+ accreditation and an unconditional 100% money-back guarantee (with return shipping paid), you can purchase with total confidence.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Scientific Citations:
[1] Burton, G.W., et al. (1998). Human plasma and tissue alpha-tocopherol concentrations in response to natural and synthetic vitamin E. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 67(4), 669–684.
[2] Jiang, Q., et al. (2001). gamma-Tocopherol, the major form of vitamin E in the US diet, deserves more attention. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 74(6), 714–722.
[3] Brigelius-Flohé, R. (1999). Tissue-specific functions of individual glutathione peroxidases. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 27(9-10), 951–965.
[4] Traber, M.G. (2007). Vitamin E regulatory mechanisms. Annual Review of Nutrition, 27, 347–362.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Selenium added to this Vitamin E formula?
Selenium and vitamin E are natural biochemical partners. While vitamin E shields your fatty cell membranes from free radical hits, selenium fuels the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which breaks down harmful peroxides into water. Working together, they provide far stronger antioxidant protection than vitamin E can achieve alone.
What makes natural d-alpha tocopherol better than synthetic dl-alpha?
Natural d-alpha tocopherol comes from plant oils and has a molecular shape that your liver's transport proteins recognize. Synthetic dl-alpha is created in a lab from petroleum byproducts and contains seven synthetic isomers that your body quickly breaks down and discards. Research shows natural vitamin E stays in your blood and tissues roughly twice as long as synthetic forms.
Will taking this softgel break my intermittent fast?
Yes, slightly. Because this is an oil-filled softgel, taking it will deliver a small amount of dietary fat. More importantly, fat-soluble vitamins absorb poorly on an empty stomach. For the best absorption, you should always take this softgel with your first solid, fat-containing meal of the day rather than during your fasting window.
Why is the softgel dark brown instead of golden yellow?
The softgel shell is naturally tinted with carob extract. Carob acts like a pair of sunglasses for the pill, protecting the delicate oils from light exposure which could cause them to oxidize. It also allows NOW to avoid using artificial food colorings or titanium dioxide.
Can I pierce the softgel and use the oil on my skin?
While the oil inside is pure and safe, this formula is specifically balanced for oral digestion and contains selenium yeast. Selenium yeast does not dissolve smoothly onto the skin and can leave a faint yeast scent. For topical skin nourishment, an unflavored, pure liquid topical vitamin E oil is usually preferred.
