Vitamin
Vitamin E
Vitamin E requires 15 mg daily for adult women and 15 mg for men. The tolerable upper intake level is 1000 mg from supplements. It works best alongside Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) and Selenium.
What Vitamin E does
Chain-breaking antioxidant that protects cell membranes from lipid peroxidation.
The UL applies to supplemental alpha-tocopherol only. High doses increase bleeding risk.
How much you need
| Measure | Adult male | Adult female |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended intake | 15 mg | 15 mg |
| Upper intake level | 1000 mg (supplemental only) | |
| Typical supplement dose | 200-400 IU | |
Interactions involving Vitamin E
5 sourced rules| Pair | Severity | Mechanism | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) × Warfarin | Moderate | High-dose alpha-tocopherol inhibits platelet aggregation and vitamin K-dependent clotting, adding to warfarin’s effect. | Keep vitamin E below 400 IU per day on warfarin, and tell your prescriber if you start it.Source |
| CoQ10 (ubiquinol) × Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) | Mild | Both are lipid-phase antioxidants that use the same chylomicron absorption route, so they compete slightly for the same uptake capacity. | No separation needed. Taking them together with fat is acceptable and common in cardiac formulas.Source |
| Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) × Direct anticoagulant | Mild | Vitamin E has mild antiplatelet activity that adds to the bleeding tendency of direct oral anticoagulants. | Avoid doses above 400 IU. Report unusual bruising or bleeding promptly.Source |
| Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) × Avocado / olive oil | Synergy | Tocopherols are lipid-phase molecules that require bile and dietary fat for absorption. | Take vitamin E with a meal that contains fat.Source |
| Selenium × Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) | Synergy | Selenium is the catalytic centre of glutathione peroxidase, which regenerates oxidised vitamin E. Each depends on the other for full antioxidant recycling. | Take selenium and vitamin E together; a common ratio is 100-200 mcg selenium to 200-400 IU vitamin E.Source |