What is the daily recommended dose of vitamin E (Vit E) for adults?

Daily Recommended Dose of Vitamin E for Adults

The recommended daily dose of vitamin E for adults is 15 mg α-tocopherol per day (RDA), with a minimum requirement of 12 mg/day (EAR), applicable to all individuals aged 14 years and older. 1

Standard Recommendations by Authority

North American Guidelines

• The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is 15 mg α-tocopherol per day for both men and women aged ≥14 years 1, 2
• The Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) is 12 mg α-tocopherol per day 1
• Pregnancy requires 15 mg/day, while lactation increases the requirement to 19 mg/day 1

European Guidelines

• The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommends an Adequate Intake (AI) of 13 mg/day for men and 11 mg/day for women 1, 2

Special Population Considerations

Older Adults (>65 years)

• While the standard RDA of 15 mg/day applies, evidence suggests older adults may benefit from higher intakes up to 200 mg/day for optimal immune function 1
• The aging process does not reduce vitamin E absorption or tissue concentrations, but older adults have compromised immune responses that may warrant higher intake 1
• However, this remains controversial and is not yet reflected in official guidelines 1

Patients on Parenteral Nutrition

• Recommendations range from 9-10 mg/day for adults receiving parenteral nutrition 1
• The α-tocopherol content varies with lipid emulsion type, with ω-9 and ω-3 fatty acid emulsions providing higher amounts 1

Upper Safety Limits

The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is 1,000 mg (approximately 1,500 IU) per day for adults. 2, 3

Critical Safety Considerations

• High-dose supplementation (≥400 IU/day) has been associated with increased prostate cancer risk in healthy men, particularly nonsmokers 2
• Vitamin E at 1,000 IU (670 mg) daily can decrease prothrombin carboxylation and increase bleeding risk, especially in patients on anticoagulants like warfarin 2
• Despite the high UL, doses up to 3,200 IU per day have caused no consistent adverse effects in clinical trials 3, 4

Dietary vs. Supplemental Intake

Preferred Sources

• Obtain vitamin E from dietary sources rather than supplements 2
• Food sources rich in α-tocopherol include wheat germ, sunflower seeds, olive oil, nuts, seeds, and green leafy vegetables 5, 2
• The median dietary intake of vitamin E in the U.S. is only 8.8 IU per day, well below the RDA 6

Supplementation Context

• Over 60% of U.S. adults have vitamin E intakes below the EAR (<12 mg/day) 1
• Approximately 11.3% of U.S. adults consume ≥400 IU per day from supplements 6
• Supplementation should be reserved for documented deficiency states or specific medical conditions, not routine prevention 2

Adjustment for Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake

• Vitamin E requirements depend on polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake 1, 7
• 0.5 mg α-tocopherol should be consumed for every gram of diene fatty acids 1
• An intake of 24 mg diene equivalents (18 g linolenic acid) requires approximately 12 mg α-tocopherol per day 1
• The amount needed to protect PUFAs against oxidative damage is at least 0.4-0.8 mg vitamin E per gram PUFAs 7

Important Clinical Caveats

Contraindications

• Patients on vitamin K antagonists (warfarin) should not take vitamin E supplements without medical supervision 2, 4
• High vitamin E intake is contraindicated in subjects with vitamin K deficiency caused by malabsorption or anticoagulant therapy 8, 4

Form Matters

• Only α-tocopherol (natural and synthetic forms) contributes to meeting vitamin E requirements 1
• Beta, gamma, and delta tocopherols and tocotrienols do not contribute toward meeting vitamin E requirements 1, 5
• One IU of vitamin E equals 0.67 mg d-α-tocopherol (natural) and 1 mg dl-α-tocopheryl acetate (synthetic) 1