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Clinical Updates
Vitamin E Supplements
Vitamin E for Wrinkles?
October 21, 2024
Does vitamin E, taken as a supplement or applied topically, reduce skin damage and/or wrinkles? See what the evidence suggests in our Vitamin E Supplements Review, which includes our Top Picks among vitamin E supplements and oils and creams.
Also see: Do any supplements reduce wrinkles, increase skin elasticity, or tighten the skin?
Fatty Liver: Does Vitamin E or DHA Help?
July 18, 2024
Does taking high-dose vitamin E or the omega-3 fatty acid DHA reduce liver fat in people with fatty liver disease? Find out what a recent study showed in the Liver disease section of our Vitamin E Supplements Review.
Also see out article: Do any supplements help with fatty liver disease? Are some diets more beneficial than others?
Also see out article: Do any supplements help with fatty liver disease? Are some diets more beneficial than others?
Vitamin E, Evening Primrose Oil, & Breast Pain
April 19, 2024
Does supplementing with vitamin E and/or evening primrose oil reduce pain among women with menstrual cycle-associated breast pain? Find out what research suggests in the What It Does section of our Vitamin E Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks among vitamin E supplements.
Tocotrienols for Fatty Liver?
December 12, 2023
Does taking tocotrienols, a form of vitamin E, improve liver function among people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)? Find out what research suggests in the Liver disease section of our Vitamin E Supplements Review.
Also see: Do any supplements help with fatty liver disease? Are some diets more beneficial than others?
Also see: Do any supplements help with fatty liver disease? Are some diets more beneficial than others?
Vitamin E & Cancer Risk
October 20, 2023
Supplementing with vitamin E might increase the risk of recurrence of bladder cancer, according to a recent study. Get the details in the Cautions and Concerns section of our Vitamin E Supplements Review.
Vitamin E - Ibuprofen Bleeding Risk
April 07, 2023
A recent case highlighted the risk of bleeding with high-dose vitamin E supplementation when also taking ibuprofen. Get the details in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Vitamin E Review, which includes our Top Picks for vitamin E.
Vitamin E for Fatty Liver Disease?
August 09, 2022
Can vitamin E improve liver health in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)? Get the details in the Liver Disease section of our Vitamin E Supplements Review.
Also see our CL Answer about Supplements for Fatty Liver Disease.
Vitamin E for Fatty Liver Disease?
April 22, 2022
Can supplementation with vitamin E benefit people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NALFD)? See what the American Heart Association recently advised in the What It Does section of our Vitamin E Supplements Review.
Also see our answer to the question: Do any supplements help with fatty liver disease?
Do We Need More Vitamin E?
August 25, 2015
A study recently suggested that many Americans don't get optimal intake of vitamin E from their diets. A closer look at this study, however, indicates that most people in the U.S. shouldn't worry. For details see the ConsumerTips section of the Vitamin E Supplements Review >>
Can Vitamin E and/or Selenium Help Prevent Cataracts?
September 18, 2014
A study in older men in the U.S. found that taking large daily doses of vitamin E and/or selenium did not significantly reduce the risk of developing cataracts. But could the dose have been too high to be helpful? Other research has shown that "less is more" when it comes to antioxidant supplementation for cataracts. For more information, see the updates to the Vitamin E Supplements Review and the Selenium Supplements Review >>
Vitamin E, Selenium Can Increase Cancer Risk
February 26, 2014
In some men, taking high doses of vitamin E or selenium may double the risk of developing high-grade prostate cancer, according to a recent analysis. For details, including the dose, see the updates to the Vitamin E Supplements Review >> and the Selenium Supplements Review >>
Vitamins C & E Blunt Exercise Effect
February 06, 2014
A recent study found that giving high-dose vitamin C or vitamin E to people involved in intensive exercise training blunted cellular changes thought to be important for improving muscular endurance. These and similar results recently reported with resveratrol raise concerns about high-dose antioxidant supplementation during exercise training. For details, see the updates to the "Concerns and Cautions" sections of the Vitamin C Supplements Review >> and the Vitamin E Supplements Review >>
Vitamin E Helps Alzheimer's Patients
January 03, 2014
A new study suggests that high-dose vitamin E can help people with Alzheimer's disease retain their ability to perform activities of daily living (such as dressing) for several months longer than those given placebo, reducing caregiver time. A similar dose of vitamin E has been shown in other studies to slow the progression of the disease in some people and to reduce the rate of conversion to Alzheimer's among people with mild cognitive impairment. For details -- including the dose and form of vitamin E used and our tests of supplements on the market which can provide this dose -- see the update to the Vitamin E Supplements Review >>
Latest Supplement Recommendations
November 16, 2013
New draft recommendations on vitamin and mineral supplement use were published this week by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The recommendations apply only to healthy adults without nutritional deficiencies. They focus only on the use of supplements for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer at doses not exceeding tolerable upper intake levels. The recommendations are based on existing science and are generally consistent with information already presented in ConsumerLab.com's Product Reviews. We have summarized the recommendations below, with links to more information in ConsumerLab.com's reports:
- Beta-Carotene and Vitamin E: Supplementation with either does not provide a benefit. Vitamin E does not pose a risk of harm, but beta-carotene increases the risk of lung cancer in people at risk for lung cancer.
- Other Single Vitamins, Minerals, Pairs, and Multivitamins: There is inadequate evidence regarding a benefit or a risk of harm.
- Beta-Carotene and Vitamin E: Supplementation with either does not provide a benefit. Vitamin E does not pose a risk of harm, but beta-carotene increases the risk of lung cancer in people at risk for lung cancer.
- Other Single Vitamins, Minerals, Pairs, and Multivitamins: There is inadequate evidence regarding a benefit or a risk of harm.
Antioxidants: Too Much of a Good Thing?
August 24, 2013
A new, long-term study of Americans found the risk of dying over the course of the study (about 14 years) was lowest when antioxidant levels in the blood were above the lowest levels (the bottom 20% of the population). However, for people in the top 20% of blood levels for vitamins A and E, the risk of death increased compared to people with moderate levels. For selenium and beta-carotene, there was no significant difference in the death rate between moderate and high levels, although for vitamin C some additional benefit was seen at high, but not the highest, levels.
The results suggest that antioxidant supplements may be useful for those who are nutritionally deficient, but, as noted by the researchers, "beyond a certain threshold, higher levels do not lead to additional benefit, and may potentially be toxic." More details (including specific serum levels) are found in the linked updates to the following reviews, which include our test results and quality ratings of products:
Vitamin E and Liver Cancer
August 01, 2012
A study has shown a dramatic decrease in the risk of liver cancer among people taking vitamin E supplements or getting higher amounts of vitamin E from their diets. But don't necessarily rush out to get vitamin E. Read the details in the update to the Vitamin E Supplements Review. More >>
Cancer Findings with Natural Vitamin E
April 29, 2012
Clinical studies have raised doubts, and even concerns, about the relationship between vitamin E supplements and cancer. However, recent studies in animals suggest the tocopherols found in natural forms of vitamin E may help prevent cancer -- although the results are preliminary. For more about this, and our tests of vitamin E supplements, see the updated Vitamin E Supplements Review. More >>
Vitamin E Risk
October 22, 2011
A study of healthy men who had taken a high-dose vitamin E supplement for several years showed a 17% increase in the risk of prostate cancer compared to men who took a placebo. See the Vitamin E Supplements Review for details, extensive information about vitamin E, and our quality ratings of vitamin E supplements. More >>
