All types of vitamins and minerals are important for good health. Vitamin E is also an important nutrient that helps with your overall wellbeing. Due to its antioxidant properties, vitamin E can protect your cells from cell damage caused by free radicals. Most healthy people get enough vitamin E from their diet and vitamin E supplements may be useful to correct deficiencies as identified by health experts. Many skin and hair care products contain vitamin E for its moisturizing effect.
What is Vitamin E?
Vitamin E is an effective antioxidant. It's a fat-soluble compound. It protects the cells from harmful free radicals by neutralizing them. These free radicals increase oxidative stress on the body, resulting in the culmination of various diseases.
Vitamin E occurs in different forms called as alpha, beta, gamma, and delta classes of tocopherol and tocotrienol. However, our body only uses alpha tocopherol.
By taking foods rich in vitamin E, you can reduce this oxidative stress on the body. Some of the food sources of vitamin E are vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, meat, dairy, and leafy greens. Certain fortified cereals may also contain some vitamin E. As your body cannot produce vitamin E, you are solely dependent on your diet to get this essential vitamin. As vitamin E can be stored in the fatty tissues, you may not need to take it every day.
While you hope to meet the macronutrient requirements of your body through diet, it isn't always possible. Our modern diet contains lots of processed foods and many people have poor lifestyle habits like smoking, alcohol consumption, etc. Further, we are exposed to several environmental toxins. All these add to the oxidative stress in the body, which can hinder the absorption of essential nutrients. So, our diet may not fulfill our body's requirements of vitamin E. The vitamin E supplements can help bridge the gap.
The absorption of vitamin E in the body depends on optimal levels of vitamin C, D3, selenium, and glutathione. Some studies also suggest that high levels of vitamin E may decrease vitamin K status. So, if you plan on taking a vitamin E supplement, consult with a healthcare provider first to understand if it's needed for you.
Vitamin E Health Benefits
Vitamin E deficiency can affect general health and increase susceptibility to various diseases and illnesses.
Protects Against Oxidative Stress
The main function of vitamin E is its protection against oxidative stress by inhibiting the production of reactive oxygen molecules. The tocopherols protect cell membranes from the attack of free radicals. As oxidation has been identified as one of the reasons for the occurrence of various diseases, vitamin E may have protective properties against many chronic diseases.
Eye Health
Oxidative stress plays a major role in causing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in older people. Vitamin E has been found to be useful in protecting from these conditions. Cohort studies have shown that people with a high vitamin E diet have 20% lower risk of developing AMD compared to people with a low dietary intake. In another study, participants with susceptibility to AMD were given vitamin E supplements containing beta carotene, vitamin C, zinc, and copper and this helped them reduce their risk of AMD.
Cognitive Health
One theory is that cumulative oxidative stress can impact neurons over time, which can result in cognitive decline for the aging population. A good vitamin E supplement rich in antioxidants may offer protection for cognitive health. A 3-year cohort study of elderly free-living people found that taking vitamin E supplements or a diet rich in vitamin E may be helpful in reducing cognitive decline.
Skin and Hair Health
Vitamin E acts as a natural moisturizer and it's found in the oil on your skin. As we grow older, our skin will have less vitamin E. Many moisturizing products contain vitamin E to keep the skin soft, moist, and protected. It may also be useful to a small extent to protect against sun damage. Many hair products also contain vitamin E to keep the scalp moisturized.
Role of Vitamin E in Fertility
Vitamin E plays an important role in the reproductive health of both men and women. It has antioxidant properties that protect reproductive cells and tissues from damage. It is also called an anti-sterility vitamin because a deficiency of vitamin E can cause impaired reproductive functions.
For men, vitamin E helps protect sperm from cell damage and improves sperm motility. Further, it also enhances sperm quality. For women, vitamin E is useful to increase the strength of the amniotic sac to promote a healthy pregnancy. It also helps improve egg quality and overall reproductive health. It may help regulate ovulation and reduce the risk of miscarriage by maintaining a healthy hormonal balance in healthy women.
That is why fertility supplements for men such as Conception XR Motility Support Formula and women such as OvaVite contain Vitamin E. In fact, fertility supplements for men contain very few ingredients, of which vitamin E is crucial. Before taking these supplements, take a blood test and consult with your doctor.
Role as Antioxidant
Being one of the vital antioxidants needed by the body, vitamin E protects against cell damage by neutralizing free radicals. It plays a crucial role in preventing lipid peroxidation, which is a chain reaction that can damage cell membranes. So, vitamin E is helpful in maintaining cell health and it could also be useful in reducing the risk of age-related diseases that occur due to poor cell health.
Who Needs Vitamin E Supplements?
Healthy individuals may get sufficient vitamin E from their diet if they take care in eating a balanced diet. Vitamin E deficiency generally occurs because some people may have medical conditions that make it difficult to digest the fat, resulting in the body not absorbing vitamin E. You may have a vitamin E deficiency if you have Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, rare inherited disorders like AVED, bowel problems, etc. In such cases, you must consult with a health expert to determine whether you have a vitamin E deficiency. If they find that you may benefit from vitamin E supplements, they may recommend them.
Healthy individuals who want to support their health while ensuring that they consume enough vitamin E can also benefit from multivitamin supplements containing vitamin E.
Who Cannot Take Vitamin E Supplement?
Vitamin E acts as a blood thinner and those who take blood thinners or have bleeding risks should vitamin E dietary supplement only after consulting with a doctor. As vitamin E interacts with several medications, you must discuss your health conditions and medicines you are already taking with an expert to determine if supplements for vitamin E are suitable for you.
Choosing the Best Vitamin E Supplement
After discussing with your healthcare provider, if vitamin E supplements are suitable for you, you can explore the multiple options available on Nutriessential. Pure Encapsulation vitamin E supplement contains eight fat-soluble compounds, including four tocopherols.
The Vitamin E + Selenium from Metagenics has antioxidant benefits. Oxy Pro from Progressive Labs is a well-rounded dietary supplement containing vitamins A, C, and E. To improve your skincare routine, you can use vitamin E-rich cream (12,000 IU) - Derma-E. This brand also has body lotion and repair creams that contain vitamin E for nourishing skin support. Another brand, AC Grace is highly popular for its vitamin E supplements containing tocopherols and tocotrienols in several unique formulations.
FAQs
1. What’s the difference between vitamin E as a dietary supplement and a multivitamin supplement?
A dietary supplement usually refers to standalone capsules, tablets, or softgels that contain concentrated vitamin E. A multivitamin supplement, on the other hand, might include vitamin E blended with other nutrients. The multivitamins usually contain lower doses of all nutrients compared to standalone supplements.
2. How do I know if I need a vitamin E supplement if I eat a balanced diet?
If your diet includes plenty of nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils, you may already be meeting your needs. However, factors like age, certain medical conditions, or low-fat diets can reduce vitamin E levels. Symptoms like muscle weakness, vision problems, or immune dysfunction may also signal a need for supplementation. However, only a healthcare expert can determine whether you need a vitamin E supplement. So, consult with them first before taking standalone vitamin E supplements.
3. Where can I buy the best rated vitamin E supplement?
If you are deficient in vitamin E, according to your doctor and you can find a wide collection of supplements with vitamin E on Nutriessential. We carry high-quality and trusted supplements from top brands in the supplement industry known for their purity, safety, and efficacy. You can buy natural vitamin E supplements at great prices on our website. Before buying the supplement, you can also connect with our in-house expert for a personalized supplement regimen.