• Heart disease – Population studies (studies that involve a large sample size observed over a period of time) that have been conducted showed that those who take higher amounts of Vitamin E are less susceptible to experiencing a heart condition. Because of this, researchers sought to discover whether the supplement plays a role in helping prevent heart disease, however, results have been inconclusive so far.

  Taking Vitamin E-rich food can also reduce the risk of fatalities due to strokes in postmenopausal women. However, its important to note that the results of this study do not support taking Vitamin E supplements as a way to prevent strokes.

• Cancer – Other population studies indicate that following a diet that’s rich in Vitamin E as well as other antioxidants can help prevent cancer. Furthermore, other studies show that cancer patients actually have a low amount of Vitamin E in their system. Because of these findings, researchers have postulated that taking antioxidants like Vitamin E can aid in the prevention of cancer. However, the results of studies investigating the use of Vitamin E supplements to prevent cancer have been inconclusive so far.

  To date, studies that link Vitamin E and the prevention of prostate cancer have been mixed. There are population studies indicate that increasing the intake of Vitamin E can lessen the risks of developing prostate cancer. However, not all studies show this result.

  On the other hand, one clinical trial that was conducted had participants take a combination of 120 mg Vitamin C, 20 mg zinc, 100 mcg selenium, and 6 mg beta-carotene, and 30 mg Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol). The results showed that while the blend of vitamins and minerals did not lower the overall risk of developing prostate cancer, it can lessen the risks in men who have normal PSA levels. A high PSA level is an indicator of prostate cancer.

  One study that involved 29,133 as participants showed that taking 50 mg Vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopherol, otherwise known as synthetic Vitamin E) daily are at less risk of developing prostate cancer and dying due to prostate cancer.

• Alzheimer’s disease – Studies that check what role Vitamin E plays in the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer’s disease also have mixed results. Researchers understand that oxidative stress plays a contributory role in how Alzheimer’s disease develops, which is why they believe that antioxidants such as Vitamin E can help prevent this cognitive disease. However, one study showed that participants who took Vitamin E supplements developed the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease with almost the same pace as those who took the placebo.

  Another study had 341 participants who have Alzheimer’s disease divided into three groups took 2,000 IU of Vitamin E, selegiline, and placebo, one for each group. Those who consumed Vitamin E took 200 days longer compared to the placebo group before the disease progressed to a more severe condition. Selegiline, however, proved to be more effective than the Vitamin E supplement.

• Eye health – Studies have indicated that Vitamin E (at 400 IU) is able to function alongside other antioxidants such as Vitamin C (500 mg), zinc (80g), and beta-carotene (15 mg) to help prevent macular degeneration (otherwise known as AMD), which is the main cause of blindness of people who are 55 years old or older in the United States. This combination has been found to be very beneficial to those suffering from an advanced form of AMD. However, it is yet unknown whether this combination of ingredients can also prevent AMD or if it can help those who have a less advanced form of this eye condition.

  Vitamins C and E have also been shown to have positive effects in the treatment of uveitis, another eye condition. This is a disorder wherein the uvea, the middle portion of the eye situated between the retina and the sclera (the white outer portion of the eye), becomes inflamed. A clinical study with 130 people suffering from this eye condition as participants showed that those who have taken these vitamins developed better vision compared to those who took the placebo.

• Menstrual pain – Some studies show that taking Vitamin E can help provide relief from dysmenorrhea. One study in particular showed that women who take 500 IU of the vitamin for 2 days before their period and 3 days after their period can greatly reduce menstrual pain of young women compared to taking a placebo.

  Some studies also indicate that taking Vitamin E can reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), such as cravings, depression, and anxiety.

• Diabetes – Researchers postulate that one of the reasons why diabetes patients are at a higher risk of developing a cardiovascular disease is because they have a lower levels of antioxidants in their system. Vitamin E, such as in supplements, as well as other antioxidants can be taken to help lower the risk of developing heart disease as well as other possible complications brought by diabetes. Furthermore, studies indicate that antioxidants can help regulate blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol levels, of patients with Type 2 Diabetes, and protecting those who have Type 1 Diabetes from developing diabetes complications such as nephropathy (kidney damage) and retinopathy (eye damage). One study that was conducted showed that patients with Type 2 Diabetes who have taken 400 IU of Vitamin E every day are at less risk of experiencing heart attacks and dying from a cardiovascular ailment compared to those who don’t.




• Rheumatoid arthritis – Some studies show that taking a Vitamin E supplement alongside rheumatoid arthritis medications can help provide relief and lessen the inflammation brought by the condition better than taking the medications alone.

Reference: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/vitamin-e-000341.htm

Following clinical trials, researchers recommend adults to take 400 to 800 IU of Vitamin E per day to prevent and treat diseases. Like other supplements, its important that you consult with your doctor before getting your child started on a Vitamin E regimen.

The recommended daily intake of dietary Vitamin E is as follows (1.5 IU Vitamin E is equivalent to 1 mg):

Pediatrics

Newborn to 6 month-old infants: 6 IU
From 6 months to 1 year: 9 IU
1 to 3 years: 9 IU
4 to 8 years: 10.5 IU
9 to 13 years: 16.5 IU
14 to 18 years: 22.5 IU

Adults

18 years and up: 22.5 IU
Pregnant women: 22.5 IU
Breastfeeding women: 28.5 IU

Risks – Vitamin E can increase the risk of bleeding, particularly for individuals taking blood thinning medications such as asparin, warfarin (Coumadin), or clopidogrel (Plavix).

Interactions – If you are taking any of the following drugs, do not take a Vitamin E supplement without the express approval of your doctor.

• Antidepressants – Vitamin E can lessen the effectiveness of desipramine (Norpramin), an antidepressant which belongs to the drug class tricyclics, as it can interfere with the bodys absorption of the medication. Other kinds of tricyclics include nortriptyline (Pamelor) and imipramine (Tofranil).
• Antipsychotics – As with antidepressants, Vitamin E can interfere with the absorption of chlorpromazine (Thorazine). Chlorpromazine is part of the drug class phenothiazines.
• Aspirin – Vitamin E increases the possibility of bleeding, which is why individuals taking aspirin and other blood thinning medications are advised to consult with their doctor before taking this supplement. However, a study that was conducted showed that the combination of Vitamin E and aspirin appears to be safe and can even be used to help those who are at risk of having a stroke.
• AZT – The vitamin can protect the body against the toxic effects and other side effects of AZT, which is a kind of medication used for the treatment of the autoimmune diseases AIDS and HIV.
• Beta-blockers – Beta blockers are medications used for the treatment of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems affected by the drug. Vitamin E may interfere with the how propranolol (Inderal), a kind of beta-blocker, is absorbed by the body.
• Bile acid sequestrants – Bile acid sequestrants are drugs designed to lower cholesterol. These can reduce the bodys ability to absorb Vitamin E. Examples of bile acid sequestrants include Cholestipol (Colestid) and Colestyramine (Questran and Prevalite).
• Statins – A blend of the antioxidants Vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and selenium, with niacin taken with simvastatin (Zocor) can counter the ability of the latter two to increase the HDL levels in the body. So far, its unknown whether Vitamin E by itself can cause this same reaction, or if the same results can happen to other statins. If youre taking a statin, make sure to consult with your physician before you start taking a Vitamin E supplement. Common statins include Simvastatin (Zocor) and Atorvastatin (Lipitor).
• Cyclosporine – Cyclosporine is used for the treatment of cancer. Vitamin E can interact with this drug, lessening the efficiency of the two. However, one study indicates that when combined, the two can increase the effects of Cyclosporine. Be sure to consult with your doctor before taking Vitamin E supplements if youre taking Cyclosporine.
• Chemotherapy drugs – There are doctors who are worried that taking Vitamin E or other antioxidants can lower the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs, which include busulfan, thipoeta, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide,carmustine, and doxorubicine, as these drugs are known to create free radicals in the system. However, there are researchers who believe that taking antioxidants can actually make these drugs more effective, as these can lead to the reduction of oxidative stress, an effect that can interfere with cancer cell death. Do consult with your doctor (preferably an oncologist) before you start taking Vitamin E or other supplements.
• Tamoxifen – Tamoxifen is a drug used to treat breast cancer, but has the added side effects of increasing triglyceride levels and making you more prone to develop high cholesterol. A clinical study with 54 women who have breast cancer as participants showed that taking Vitamins C and E with tamoxifen can counter these side effects by reducing LDL and triglycerides levels even as it increases the amount of HDL in the system. Vitamins C and E also enhance the effectiveness of the drug in fighting against cancer.
• Warfarin (Coumadin) – As with aspirin, taking Vitamin E with warfarin can make you more likely to bleed as compared to not taking the vitamin.
• Orlistat (Alli) – Orlistat is a weight loss drug, working by preventing the body from absorbing fat and calories. Because Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, this medication can prevent the body from absorbing its nutrients. Some doctors may recommend taking Orlistat with a multivitamin that contains fat-soluble vitamins.