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Not All Vitamin E Supplements Are Alike, Especially "Natural" Ones, ConsumerLab.com Tests Reveal
White Plains, New York, August 28, 2015 — ConsumerLab.com recently tested popular brands of natural and synthetic vitamin E supplements and found that not all vitamin E supplements are the same - with big differences in the types and amounts of compounds they contain. This was especially true for "natural" vitamin E which should naturally include compounds, like gamma tocopherol, not found in synthetic products. However, ConsumerLab.com found anywhere from 1.8 mg to 432 mg of these other compounds per daily serving in natural vitamin E supplements.
Vitamin E supplements are relatively popular in the U.S. In a 2014 survey of supplement users, ConsumerLab.com found that 18.3% reported taking vitamin E supplements. Although deficiency is rare in the U.S., vitamin E may be helpful in Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, certain types of nerve pain and other conditions. There is some evidence that natural vitamin E, with its wider range of tocopherol compounds, may provide benefits that synthetic vitamin E, which contains only alpha-tocopherol, does not. For example, natural vitamin E may lower the risk of prostate cancer, while synthetic vitamin E may actually increase the risk. Although vitamin E supplements were once touted for heart disease, research suggests little benefit -- vitamin E may even raise the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, and reduce the effectiveness of cholesterol-lowering agents.
The test results and quality ratings appear online in ConsumerLab.com's new Vitamin E Supplements Review. The report covers 11 products selected by ConsumerLab.com, including a topical cream and oil, and six others which passed the same tests in ConsumerLab.com's voluntary Quality Certification Program. Also included are two products similar to one which passed testing but which are sold under different brand names. The following products are included in the report: 21st Century E-1000, Carlson GEMS Natural Vitamin E, CVS/pharmacy E 200 IU, Derma-E Vitamin E 12,000 IU Créme, DEVA Vegan Vitamin, Finest Nutrition (Walgreens) E Vitamin, Jason Vitamin E, Kirkland Signature [Coscto] Vitamin E 400 IU, Nature Made Vitamin E, Nature's Bounty E-400 IU, Nature's Sunshine Vitamin E, Pure Encapsulations Vitamin E, Puritan's Pride E-400 IU, Solgar Vitamin E 400 IU, Spring Valley (Walmart) E, Trader Joe's Vitamin E, Twinlab Super E-Complex, UNIQUE E and Vitamin World E-400 IU.
In addition to the test results, the report includes the clinical evidence for vitamin E as well as information about dosing, safety, side-effects and potential drug-interactions.
Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to reviews of more than 1,000 products from over 400 brands. The company is privately held and based in Westchester, New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
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Vitamin E supplements are relatively popular in the U.S. In a 2014 survey of supplement users, ConsumerLab.com found that 18.3% reported taking vitamin E supplements. Although deficiency is rare in the U.S., vitamin E may be helpful in Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, certain types of nerve pain and other conditions. There is some evidence that natural vitamin E, with its wider range of tocopherol compounds, may provide benefits that synthetic vitamin E, which contains only alpha-tocopherol, does not. For example, natural vitamin E may lower the risk of prostate cancer, while synthetic vitamin E may actually increase the risk. Although vitamin E supplements were once touted for heart disease, research suggests little benefit -- vitamin E may even raise the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, and reduce the effectiveness of cholesterol-lowering agents.
The test results and quality ratings appear online in ConsumerLab.com's new Vitamin E Supplements Review. The report covers 11 products selected by ConsumerLab.com, including a topical cream and oil, and six others which passed the same tests in ConsumerLab.com's voluntary Quality Certification Program. Also included are two products similar to one which passed testing but which are sold under different brand names. The following products are included in the report: 21st Century E-1000, Carlson GEMS Natural Vitamin E, CVS/pharmacy E 200 IU, Derma-E Vitamin E 12,000 IU Créme, DEVA Vegan Vitamin, Finest Nutrition (Walgreens) E Vitamin, Jason Vitamin E, Kirkland Signature [Coscto] Vitamin E 400 IU, Nature Made Vitamin E, Nature's Bounty E-400 IU, Nature's Sunshine Vitamin E, Pure Encapsulations Vitamin E, Puritan's Pride E-400 IU, Solgar Vitamin E 400 IU, Spring Valley (Walmart) E, Trader Joe's Vitamin E, Twinlab Super E-Complex, UNIQUE E and Vitamin World E-400 IU.
In addition to the test results, the report includes the clinical evidence for vitamin E as well as information about dosing, safety, side-effects and potential drug-interactions.
Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to reviews of more than 1,000 products from over 400 brands. The company is privately held and based in Westchester, New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
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