Vitamin E

Fat-soluble antioxidant

What does Vitamin E do in your body?

A fat-soluble antioxidant that protects the fats in cell membranes from oxidative damage.

What does Vitamin E do?

Stops chain reactions of fat oxidation in cell membranes. Also involved in immune function and cell signaling.

Where does Vitamin E act in the body?

Cell membranes throughout the body, especially in nerves and red blood cells.

Which foods contain Vitamin E?

Nuts and seeds (almonds, sunflower seeds), vegetable oils (wheat germ, sunflower, safflower), spinach, broccoli.

How much Vitamin E do adults need?

RDA: 15 mg alpha-tocopherol for adults. Upper limit: 1,000 mg/day from supplements.

What happens with too little Vitamin E?

Rare in healthy people; mostly seen with fat-malabsorption conditions. Can cause nerve and muscle damage.

Can you get too much Vitamin E?

No harm known from food. High-dose supplements may increase bleeding risk.

What does Vitamin E interact with?

High doses may add to the effect of blood thinners like warfarin.

What is known and unknown about Vitamin E?

Antioxidant role is established. Trials of vitamin E supplements for preventing heart disease and cancer have mostly been disappointing.

Evidence & sources

• The adult RDA for vitamin E is 15 mg; the UL is 1,000 mg from supplements. Evidence: regulatory. Known: Set by the Institute of Medicine (2000). Unknown: Benefits of high supplemental doses are not established. Source: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Vitamin E — Health Professional Fact Sheet (Current revision).

Connected topics

• Almonds
• Fat
• Nerve Signaling
• Tocopherol
• Blood

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General education only, not medical advice. Drafted Oct 2026 · pending qualified expert review.