Vitamin E pill use and function - Proper dosage

Also known as tocopherol, vitamin E was isolated in the 1920s. There is general agreement that this fat-soluble vitamin can function as an excellent antioxidant protecting cells from damage. However, the appropriate dosage in terms of supplement intake is not established. Some doctors do not believe any supplementation is required, whereas others believe up to 1000 units a day is healthy. In our opinion, a dosage of 100 to 200 units taken once or twice a week should provide adequate protection. There is no need to take massive dosages on a daily basis.

Vitamin E comes in many forms
Several types of natural vitamin E compounds are available, including alpha-, beta-, gamma-and delta-tocopherol. Alpha-tocopherol seems to be the most active, although we should not dismiss the importance of the others. It seems prudent to supplement with products that have mixed tocopherols as opposed to just alpha-tocopherol. Supplementation of diets with alpha-tocopherol reduces serum concentrations of gamma- and delta-tocopherol in humans.

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Tocotrienols and tocopherols are potent antioxidants that are 100% natural. These nutrients have been combined with d-alpha vitamin E, and yeast-free Selenium. The result is a synergistic combination of nutritional antioxidants.



 

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Why take a combination of tocopherols?
Supplementation of diets with alpha-tocopherol reduces serum concentrations of gamma- and delta-tocopherol in humans. Therefore, it appears that it is healthier to take a combination of different natural forms of vitamin E.

Recommendations of Vitamin E use
The average American diet contains between 10 and 22 international units of vitamin E. Additional intake is likely to be beneficial. Most healthy adults should do well with supplementing with 20 to 400 units a few times a week. Very high dosages, such as 1,000 units or more, can lead to an increase in bleeding tendency, tiredness, and possibly impaired immune function.

Vitamin E dosage
 Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore pooled data from 19 trials of vitamin E supplementation. These included nearly 136,000 subjects who were randomly assigned to take vitamin E or placebo capsules and were followed for more than a year. Overall, vitamin E supplementation did not affect mortality rates. However, the trials testing doses of 400 IU daily or higher showed 39 more deaths occurred per 10,000 people taking high-dose vitamin E than among the same number of people taking a placebo. For low doses of vitamin E -- less than 150 IU daily --  mortality rates were slightly decreased.
   Many people who supplement with vitamin E may be taking too much. The problem with this study, though, is that it probably did not make a distinction between synthetic vitamin E supplements and natural vitamin E. On a supplement label, natural vitamin E is listed as d-alpha tocopherol. In contrast, synthetic forms of vitamin E are labeled with a dl- prefix. Also, the study did not account for the d-alpha form of vitamin E versus a natural Vitamin E supplement that includes all the tocopherols and tocotrienols. Even though it is a flawed study, we still believe 50 to 200 units of natural vitamin E supplement use a few times a week is quite adequate.

Vitamin E supplement questions
Q. Does an oral vitamin E supplement help or not help with fungal toe nail infections?
   A. We doubt vitamin E has an effect one way or the other. See tinea unguium for details on how to treat this difficult skin and nail condition.

Q. Is it too high a dose to combine coq10 100 mg with vitamin E 400 iu for long term use?
   A. For most people, yes. We suggest limiting it to 30 mg and vitamin E to 200 units or less.

Q. Does vitamin E help with impotence or erectile dysfunction?
   A. Vitamin E does not have a direct effect on sexual enhancement, there are many herbs that are quite effective for this purpose.

Q. Do vitamin E supplement function and use interfere with yohimbe bark herbal extract?
   A. We don't think so, they should not.