The document discusses vitamin E, including its forms and functions, requirements, food sources, supplements, effects of deficiency, health benefits and concerns, and interactions. It covers vitamin E's role as an antioxidant, recommended daily intake amounts, top food sources like vegetable oils and nuts, use of supplements, signs of deficiency, potential positive effects like reduced heart disease risk and negative effects like increased bleeding risk, and how supplements may interact with medications. Additional resources on vitamin E are also provided.

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Vitamin E

2. Vitamin E – Introduction
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The points I will be discussing in this presentation on Vitamin
E are as follows:
Vitamin E – Forms and Functions
Vitamin E – Requirements
Vitamin E – Foods
Vitamin E – Supplements
Vitamin E – Effects of Deficiency
Vitamin E – Health Benefits and Possible Problems
Vitamin E – Possible Health Concerns and Interactions

3. Vitamin E – Forms and Functions
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Vitamin E is a fat-soluble micronutrient that is required by the
body and is found in many foods.
Vitamin E functions as an antioxidant in the body, facilitating
protection of cells from free radical damage that takes place
when the food we consume is converted into energy in the body
(NIHODS, 2011).
Vitamin E helps the immune system resist attacks from bacteria
and/or viruses.
Vitamin E facilitates widening of blood vessels to keep blood
clots from occurring inside of them (NIHODS, 2011).
Cells also use vitamin E to network with each other so that they
could perform other significant functions.
Source: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-Consumer/

4. Vitamin E - Requirements
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The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin E is listed
below:
Birth to 6 months – 4 mg (6 IU) (NIHODS, 2011).
Infants 7-12 months – 5 mg (7.5 IU)
Children 1-3 years – 6 mg (9 IU)
Children 4-8 years – 7 mg (10.4 IU)
Children 9-13 years – 11 mg (16.4 IU) (NIHODS, 2011).
Teens 14-18 years – 15 mg (22.4 IU)
Adults – 15 mg (22.4 IU)
Pregnancy – 15 mg (22.4 IU)
Breastfeeding – 19 mg (28.4 IU) (NIHODS, 2011).
Source: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-Consumer/

5. Vitamin E Foods
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Some good sources of vitamin E are vegetable oils such as wheat germ,
sunflower, and safflower oils, as well as corn and soybean oils
(Schlenker & Roth, 2011).
Other good sources of vitamin E are various types of nuts such as
peanuts, hazelnuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds.
Some good sources of vitamin E that come from the green vegetables
are spinach and broccoli.
Vitamin E is found in some breakfast cereals, fruit juices, margarines
and spreads, and other foods that are supplemented by the food
manufacturers (Schlenker & Roth, 2011).
Source: Schlenker, E. D., & Roth, S. L. (2011). Williams’ essentials of
nutrition and diet therapy (Tenth Ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier
Mosby Publishers.

6. Vitamin E Supplements
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Many daily multivitamin-mineral supplements provide around
30 IU of vitamin E.
Vitamin E-only supplements typically provide 100 to 1,000 IU
per pill (NIHODS, 2011).
The amount of vitamin E in vitamin E-only supplements
typically surpasses the recommended daily allowances.
All forms of vitamin E have different strengths, or levels of
activity in the body (NIHODS, 2011).
Vitamin E from natural food sources are listed as "d-alpha-
tocopherol" on food packaging and supplement labels.
Synthetic, man-made vitamin E is listed as "dl-alpha-tocopherol"
(NIHODS, 2011).
Source: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-Consumer/

7. Vitamin E Deficiency
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Vitamin E deficiency is typically related to specific diseases
involving fat that is not being digested or absorbed by normal
mechanisms (NIHODS, 2011).
Examples of vitamin E deficiency are Crohn's disease, cystic
fibrosis, and some uncommon genetic diseases such as
abetalipoproteinemia and ataxia with vitamin E deficiency
(AVED) (NIHODS, 2011).
Vitamin E requires a specific amount of fat for the digestive
system to absorb it.
Vitamin E deficiency can affect nerves and muscles.
A weakened immune system is another sign of a vitamin E
deficiency (NIHODS, 2011).
Source: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-Consumer/

8. Vitamin E Health Benefits/Problems
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Studies have indicated consuming larger quantities of vitamin E
from supplements may lower chances of developing heart disease
(NIHODS, 2011).
The majority of research indicates vitamin E does not help to
prevent cancer and could possibly be harmful in certain cases.
One study showed a link between long term use of vitamin E
supplements for at least ten years and a lower chance of dying
from bladder cancer (NIHODS, 2011).
It is possible that vitamin E dietary supplements and other
antioxidants could interact with chemotherapy and radiation
therapy.
Source: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-Consumer/

9. Vitamin E Health Concerns
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Consuming vitamin E in foods does not pose any danger or cause
any harm.
Taking high dose vitamin E supplements may raise the chances
of bleeding (NIHODS, 2011).
Recent research has indicated intakes of vitamin E under the
upper safe levels of 1,500 IU/day for food, and 1,100 IU/day for
supplements could increase the chances of men getting prostate
cancer.
Taking vitamin E could increase chances of dying in certain
adults with other chronic health conditions, but is not the case
with healthy people (NIHODS, 2011).
Source: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-Consumer/

10. Vitamin E Interactions
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Vitamin E supplements may interact or hinder other drugs an
individual is taking at the same time.
Vitamin E raises bleeding chances in people taking anticoagulant
or antiplatelet medicines, such as warfarin (Coumadin®)
(NIHODS, 2011).
One study indicated vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium, and beta-
carotene, when combined, lowered heart-protective effects of two
drugs taken in combination, a statin and niacin, to affect blood-
cholesterol levels (NIHODS, 2011).
When going through chemotherapy or radiation therapy for
cancer, antioxidant supplements could interfere with the effects
of these treatments (NIHODS, 2011).
Source: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-Consumer/

11. More About Vitamin E – Part 1
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General information on vitamin E can be found at:
Office of Dietary Supplements Health Professional Fact Sheet on Vitamin E
Vitamin E MedlinePlus®
Additional information relating to food sources of vitamin E can be found at:
U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) National Nutrient Database.
Nutrient List for vitamin E (listed by food or by vitamin E content), USDA.
Additional information on buying dietary supplements can be found at:
Office of Dietary Supplements Frequently Asked Questions: Which brand(s) of
dietary supplements should I purchase?
Additional information on the government's food guidance system can be found at:
ChooseMyPlate - http://www.choosemyplate.gov/
Dietary Guidelines for Americans - http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/
Source: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-Consumer/

12. More About Vitamin E – Part 2
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Additional information on vitamin E can be found at:
The Natural Medicine Journal at: http://natural
medicinejournal.com/journal/2011-12/research-
behind-vitamin-e
The NIH National Center for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at: http://
nccam.nih.gov/health/vitamins/E
Dr. Weil.com at: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/
ART02813/facts-about-vitamin-e

13. References
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National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary
Supplements. (2011). Vitamin E. Retrieved from:
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-
Consumer/
Schlenker, E. D., & Roth, S. L. (2011) Williams’
essentials of nutrition and diet therapy (Tenth
Ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Mosby
Publishers.