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evidence · mechanism · dose
Supplements/Vitamin

Vitamin E

aka Alpha-tocopherol · Mixed tocopherols

Primary lipid-phase antioxidant protecting membrane PUFAs.

Cardiovascular HealthSkin, Hair & NailsHealthy Aging

Overview

Primary lipid-phase antioxidant protecting membrane PUFAs.

Natural sources
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Almonds
  • Wheat germ oil
  • Avocado
Common forms
  • Alpha-tocopherol
  • Mixed tocopherols
  • Tocotrienols

Forms & variants of Vitamin E

Different chemical forms of Vitamin E behave differently. Browse each form's mechanism, bioavailability, and best-use context.

Tocotrienols
Tocotrienols (Vitamin E)

Unsaturated vitamin E family — superior antioxidant capacity vs alpha-tocopherol.

Mixed natural tocopherols
Mixed Tocopherols

Full-spectrum natural vitamin E avoiding α-only supplementation pitfalls.

Mechanism of action

Chain-breaking antioxidant in cell membranes; terminates lipid peroxidation cascades.

Pathways
  • · Lipid peroxidation termination

Effects on the body

Decreases
Lipid peroxidation

Organ system effects

Skin

Protects sebum and stratum corneum lipids.

Evidence-based benefits

Slows NAFLD progression (PIVENS trial)

Moderate evidence

Improves nonalcoholic steatohepatitis histology

Moderate evidence

Potential side effects

Common
    Rare
      Serious
      • · Increased bleeding risk >400 IU + anticoagulants

      Drug interactions

      Warfarin / antiplatelets
      Additive bleeding risk.
      moderate

      Safety & non-supplemental interactions

      Educational summary — always confirm with your clinician or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or combining with prescription therapy.

      Avoid with these conditions
      • ·Bleeding disorders
      • ·Vitamin K deficiency
      • ·History of stroke (hemorrhagic risk at high dose)
      Avoid / monitor with these medications
      • ·Warfarin and anticoagulants
      • ·Antiplatelets
      • ·Chemotherapy and radiation (may interfere)
      Before surgery
      • ·Stop high-dose (>400 IU) ≥1 week before surgery.

      Supplement interactions

      Pairs well with

      None listed.

      Avoid combining with
      • Pre-surgery
        Discontinue 1–2 weeks before surgery.

      Dosing & bioavailability

      Typical dose
      15 mg α-tocopherol
      Upper safe limit
      1,000 mg
      Best form
      Mixed tocopherols
      With food?
      Yes (fat-soluble)

      Where to buy

      Affiliate-style search links to reputable retailers. We don't endorse specific brands — verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

      Vitamin
      Vitamin E
      Amazon
      Wide selection · fast shipping
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      iHerb
      Global delivery · curated brands
      Vitamin
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      Thorne
      Practitioner-grade · NSF tested

      Scientific evidence (9)

      Systematic reviewExamine.com Supplement Database · 2023

      Vitamin E: pharmacology, clinical evidence, and safety — narrative review

      Examine.com Research Team

      Curated narrative review of human and preclinical evidence for Vitamin E, including mechanism, typical dosing, and safety considerations.

      Key findings

      Best-supported outcome: Slows NAFLD progression (PIVENS trial) (evidence: moderate). Additional outcomes and limitations summarized in the full profile.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Vitamin E — Slows NAFLD progression

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Vitamin E Slows NAFLD progression" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Vitamin E and "Slows NAFLD progression". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Vitamin E — Improves nonalcoholic steatohepatitis histology

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Vitamin E Improves nonalcoholic steatohepatitis histology" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Vitamin E and "Improves nonalcoholic steatohepatitis histology". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Vitamin E — randomized controlled trial

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Vitamin E randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Vitamin E and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Vitamin E — meta-analysis

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Vitamin E meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Vitamin E and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Vitamin E — pharmacokinetics

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Vitamin E pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Vitamin E and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Vitamin E — safety adverse events

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Vitamin E safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Vitamin E and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Vitamin E — dose response

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Vitamin E dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Vitamin E and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

      Google Scholar: Vitamin E — clinical evidence

      Live Scholar search

      Cross-database citation index for Vitamin E as it relates to "clinical evidence".

      Key findings

      Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

      Open study
      Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.