Tocopherol-rich extract

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Asthma and wheeze in children²

  In children, higher circulating α-tocopherol was linked to less wheeze or asthma, though evidence was consistent only for this outcome.

• Concern

  Muscle strength and recovery³

  Vitamin E supplements may block training gains, and effects on muscle strength are inconsistent.

• No harm found

  Heart health⁴

  Large studies in people found vitamin E supplements did not help heart health as once hoped.

• Open question

  Antioxidant effects and metabolism⁵

  In people, the antioxidant roles of some vitamin E forms are known, but links to metabolic disorders are still being studied.

• Concern

  Risk of dying⁶

  High-dose vitamin E supplements may raise the risk of dying, though whether this applies to healthy people is still uncertain.

• Benefit

  Bone strength in older adults⁷

  In older people, eating more vitamin E was linked to lower chances of weak, brittle bones.

Single cases of misuse or overdose

One person or one incident, such as an accidental overdose or a mistake in a kitchen or factory. They are real, but a single case does not show what happens at normal amounts, so the signal does not count them.

• Blood clotting after weight-loss surgery⁸

  A woman's blood clotting slowed after too much vitamin E following weight-loss surgery, and returned to normal when she stopped.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.

Expert panels that weigh all the research. Shown for context: the signal at the top does not count them.

• UN and WHO food additive experts (JECFA), 1973

  Acceptable daily intake: up to 2 mg per kg of body weight.