How Much and what kind of Vitamin E?

How Much and what kind of Vitamin E?

Darrell Miller

10/10/05

Date: October 10, 2005 10:28 AM
Author: Darrell Miller (dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: How Much and what kind of Vitamin E?

How Much and what kind of Vitamin E?

Vitamin E deficiency is rare in humans and is typically seen only in those with severe malnutrition, genetic defects of fat malabsorption disorders, such as cystic fibrosis. But does the average person get enough vitamin E to prevent disease? Probably not. Intake levels are low, and many people don’t even meet the adult daily reference intake of 15 mg/day. Studies showing health benefits typically start with an intake higher than 200 mg/day. Nutritionists usually recommend obtaining micronutrients from food before turning to supplementation, but in the case of vitamin E, one would have to eat more food than is humanly possible to obtain at least 200 mg/day. Therefore, for those who wish to increase vitamin E intake to potentially therapeutic levels, supplements are the only option.

So what type of supplement is best?

The Majority of clinical trials have examined alpha-tocopherol intake, with research on gamma-tocopherol and other forms lagging behind. However, food offers a mix of tocopherols and tocotrienols that are thought to act synergistically to exert health benefits. Given these synergistic relationships and the results of research to date, a mixed-tocopherol product seems to be the best choice.

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