What is Vitamin E?
Vitamin E is a family of fat-soluble compounds, mainly tocopherols and tocotrienols. Alpha-tocopherol is the form the body keeps.
What it does for skin
Vitamin E is a common ingredient in topical skincare.
We found no oral skin-benefit result for vitamin E in the NIH sources reviewed.
What the research shows
In the SELECT trial of healthy men aged 50 and over, men taking vitamin E alone had a 17% higher risk of prostate cancer than men taking placebo, a statistically significant difference.
Forms, amounts and limits
The NIH recommended amount is 15 mg a day for adults.
The NIH tolerable upper limit for supplemental alpha-tocopherol is 1,000 mg a day for adults.
Safety
The NIH fact sheet links high-dose vitamin E with a higher prostate cancer risk in men (SELECT).
Ask a clinician before high doses if you take prescription medicines.
Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medicines.
Questions
Is vitamin E good for skin?
Vitamin E is common in topical skincare. For high-dose pills, the NIH sources show risks and no skin-benefit result.
Sources
General information, not medical advice. Vanu Health does not sell this supplement. Read our terms.