Vitamin E is often considered a single supplement or compound. In reality, it's a group of several fat-soluble compounds that produce an antioxidant effect. Among all these compounds, there's one that caters to our dietary requirements and the rest offer additional benefits to the body. Vitamin E can be found naturally in seeds, nuts and vegetables. However, these foods contain a very small quantity of vitamins which is insufficient to meet our needs in today's time.

What is a Vitamin E supplement, and why do you need it?

Vitamin deficiency can lead to many other health conditions related to your skin, vision and the development of certain genetic diseases. To prevent these deficiencies, vitamin E supplements are prescribed to people of all ages, especially teenagers. Although this deficiency is rare in healthy people, it's usually linked to certain diseases in which fat is not properly absorbed into the body or organ diseases where Vitamin E plays an important role.

Vitamin E deficiency may cause:

• Crohn’s disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Certain rare genetic disorders such as abetalipoproteinemia and ataxia (AVED)
• Cardiovascular diseases to escalate
• Vision and eye disorders
• Reduces brain function
• Nerve and muscle damage
• Loss of body movement control
• Muscle weakness
• Weakened immune system

Vitamin E is also required for the effective function of many organs. The type of Vitamin E that occurs naturally in foods (RRR-alpha-tocopherol) is structurally different from artificially made Vitamin E that is in supplements (all-rac-alpha-tocopherol). Fundamentally, both work in the same way.

Vitamin E supplement benefits

Vitamin E supplements offer an array of advantages that contribute to overall health and well-being. Here are some key benefits:

• Reduce stress: Oxidative stress is a condition that is caused by an imbalance between your body’s antioxidant defences and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This can increase cellular damage and the risk of other diseases. Vitamin E works as a strong antioxidant and reduces oxidative stress.
• Prevent the risk of heart diseases: Hypertension (high blood pressure) and high levels of blood lipids such as bad cholesterol may increase your risk of developing heart disease. Fortunately, studies have shown that vitamin E supplements can help reduce the risk of heart diseases in some people.
• Benefit patients with NAFLD: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the name for a number of conditions that cause an accumulation of fat in the liver in people who drink little or no alcohol. Research suggests vitamin E supplements can regulate some factors of health in patients with NAFLD.
• Alleviates symptoms of dysmenorrhea: Dysmenorrhea is a condition known for serious and continuous menstrual pain, such as cramps and pelvic pain. According to research, vitamin E supplements can alleviate this pain in women with dysmenorrhea and also reduce premenstrual symptoms (PMS).
• Improves skin health: Although research in this area is limited, vitamin E can be helpful in treating some skin conditions such as eczema. In line with popular belief, the supplement also improves general skin health and activates antioxidants to make skin texture better and slow down skin ageing.
• Benefits cognitive health: Keeping optimal vitamin E levels and taking supplements might be beneficial in protecting against cognitive decline. However, there's only limited research on whether supplements can really improve cognitive functions.
• Good for the elderly: Strong antioxidant properties in vitamin E can be helpful for reducing the effects of ageing on our bodies and organs. Vitamin E plays a crucial role in maintaining health, such as reduced inflammation and better immune function. Supplements will also benefit older people who don’t get enough vitamins in their diets.

Apart from these Vitamin E 400 IU benefits, a good amount of vitamin E intake will prevent deficiency, which in turn will save you from other health conditions and diseases stated above.

The best vitamin E supplement

Vitamin E supplements are sold under many brand names. To help you choose from the best of the best, here's a list of 11 Vitamin E supplements that have been developed with advanced research and work wonders:

1. Valupak Vitamin E 100 iu
2. Nordic Naturals Vitamin E Complex
3. Pure Encapsulations Vitamin E
4. Nature Made Natural Vitamin E
5. Garden of Life Code Raw Vitamin E
6. CVS Health Vitamin E
7. Nutrilite Chewable Vitamin E
8. Kirkland Signature Vitamin E
9. Nutricost Vitamin E
10. OLLY The Perfect Women's Multi
11. Nature Made Multi for Him

How much Vitamin E per day should you take?

Vitamin E deficiency in healthy individuals is rather uncommon. However, to maintain a balance, everyone needs a certain amount of vitamin E in their diet every day. Based on age, vitamin E intake should be:

• 0-6 months: 4 mg
• 7-12 months: 5 mg
• 1-3 years: 6 mg
• 4-8 years: 7 mg
• 9-13 years: 11 mg
• 14 years and onwards: 15 mg

In the case of lactating women: 19 mg

The best time to take Vitamin E is after breakfast/lunch or after eating fat-rich food because it helps in the absorption of Vitamin E supplements. Overdosing on natural food-based Vitamin E is unlikely. Still, you should stay aware when taking supplements, as an overdose may lead to negative side effects and damage your health. Make sure you check the labels for any supplement you're using before taking them because the number of vitamins varies in every supplement.

Buy Vitamin E supplements online in the UK

Vitamin E can potentially interact with other medications and cause a negative effect. Although vitamin E supplements are available without a prescription, it's important to talk with a healthcare professional about the supplements you’re taking, especially before you start taking them.

You can order Vitamin E supplements or other vitamins online or get a consultation with the specialists on the go at our website.