vitamin
Vitamin E
Alpha-tocopherol, a fat-soluble antioxidant that protects cell membranes from oxidative damage. Supports immune function, skin health, and cardiovascular health.
What it’s good for
Vitamin E for Dry Skin
Not verified4 studies · 1 supporting · 1 against
7 safety notes
Why it gets suggested: An antioxidant that protects the fats in your skin cell walls from damage.
Dose: 200–400 IU
Why we could not verify it: Searched PubMed systematically for oral vitamin E supplementation in human trials for dry skin or xerosis. Found 12 results for vitamin E + dry skin/xerosis + trial terms and 9 results excluding topical. No trial tests oral vitamin E alone as the intervention for primary dry skin (xerosis in otherwise healthy subjects). The closest papers are: (1) PMID 26941808 — oral vitamin E 400 IU/day in an RCT for atopic dermatitis, a specific inflammatory skin disease not simple dry skin; (2) PMID 24498826 — oral vitamin E 800 IU/day to prevent dermal complications of isotretinoin, which is drug-induced xerosis as a side-effect endpoint, not a primary dry skin study. The 2022 systematic review of dieta
Vitamin E for Hot Flashes
Not verified2 studies · 0 supporting · 0 against
7 safety notes
Why it gets suggested: An antioxidant effect on the brain’s thermostat is proposed, but never really pinned down.
Dose: 400 IU
Tested as: alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), 400 IU/day
Why we could not verify it: We read the research behind this and none of it concluded that it works for this. That is a finding about the papers, not a verdict that it does nothing.
Vitamin E for Poor Memory
Not verified2 studies · 0 supporting · 2 against
7 safety notes
Dose: 2000 IU
Tested as: Alpha-tocopherol, 2000 IU a day. The other forms were not tested.
Why we could not verify it: We found 2 studies on this. We have not finished reading them yet, so we are not ready to say either way.
Vitamin E for Frequent Colds
Not verified2 studies · 1 supporting · 1 against
7 safety notes
Dose: 200 mg
Tested as: Man-made alpha-tocopherol, 200 mg a day. Alone, or with a multivitamin.
Why we could not verify it: We found 2 studies on this. We have not finished reading them yet, so we are not ready to say either way.
Vitamin E for Blurry Vision
Not verified1 study · 0 supporting · 1 against
7 safety notes
Dose: 400 IU
Tested as: Alpha-tocopherol, the man-made kind. 400 IU. Taken every other day.
Why we could not verify it: We found 1 study on this. We have not finished reading them yet, so we are not ready to say either way.
Vitamin E for High Blood Pressure
Not verified1 study · 0 supporting · 0 against
7 safety notes
Tested as: Mixed across 18 trials. Mostly alpha-tocopherol. No single dose is reported.
Why we could not verify it: We found 1 study on this. We have not finished reading them yet, so we are not ready to say either way.
Vitamin E for Slow Recovery
Not verified1 study · 0 supporting · 1 against
7 safety notes
Tested as: Vitamin E across 20 trials. No single form or dose is reported.
Why we could not verify it: We found 1 study on this. We have not finished reading them yet, so we are not ready to say either way.
Vitamin E for Insomnia
Not verified1 study · 1 supporting · 0 against
7 safety notes
Dose: 400
Tested as: Mixed tocopherols, 400 units a day. Mostly the gamma form, not alpha.
Why we could not verify it: We found 1 study on this. We have not finished reading them yet, so we are not ready to say either way.
Vitamin E for Muscle Soreness
Not verified1 study · 0 supporting · 1 against
7 safety notes
Tested as: Vitamin E across 20 trials. No single form or dose is reported.
Why we could not verify it: We found 1 study on this. We have not finished reading them yet, so we are not ready to say either way.
Vitamin E for Low Mood
Not verified1 study · 0 supporting · 0 against
7 safety notes
Tested as: Alpha-tocopherol. Only 3 trials gave it alone. The rest mixed it with other things, such as fish oil.
Why we could not verify it: We found 1 study on this. We have not finished reading them yet, so we are not ready to say either way.
Vitamin E for Poor Sleep Quality
Not verified1 study · 1 supporting · 0 against
7 safety notes
Dose: 400
Tested as: Mixed tocopherols, 400 units a day. Mostly the gamma form, not alpha.
Why we could not verify it: We found 1 study on this. We have not finished reading them yet, so we are not ready to say either way.
Vitamin E for Chronic Inflammation
Not verified1 study · 0 supporting · 0 against
7 safety notes
Dose: 15–1200 mg
Tested as: Mixed forms and doses across 33 trials. Mostly alpha-tocopherol.
Why we could not verify it: We found 1 study on this. We have not finished reading them yet, so we are not ready to say either way.
Vitamin E for Anxiety
Not verified1 study · 0 supporting · 0 against
7 safety notes
Tested as: Alpha-tocopherol. Only 3 trials gave it alone. The rest mixed it with other things, such as fish oil.
Why we could not verify it: We found 1 study on this. We have not finished reading them yet, so we are not ready to say either way.
Vitamin E for High Cholesterol
Not verified1 study · 0 supporting · 1 against
7 safety notes
Tested as: Tocotrienols, the other branch of the vitamin E family. Mostly from palm. 15 papers.
Why we could not verify it: We found 1 study on this. We have not finished reading them yet, so we are not ready to say either way.
Vitamin E for Weight & Body Composition
Not verified1 study · 0 supporting · 1 against
7 safety notes
Tested as: Vitamin E across 24 trials. Forms and doses varied, and are not reported.
Why we could not verify it: We found 1 study on this. We have not finished reading them yet, so we are not ready to say either way.
Vitamin E for Joint Pain
Not verified1 study · 0 supporting · 1 against
7 safety notes
Dose: 500 IU
Tested as: Vitamin E, 500 IU a day. Natural and man-made are not told apart.
Why we could not verify it: We found 1 study on this. We have not finished reading them yet, so we are not ready to say either way.
Vitamin E for Muscle Cramps
Not verified1 study · 1 supporting · 0 against
7 safety notes
Dose: 400 mg
Tested as: Vitamin E 400 mg/day (isomer not stated in the report), alone or combined with vitamin C 250 mg
Why we could not verify it: We found 1 study on this. We have not finished reading them yet, so we are not ready to say either way.