Vitamins, minerals and supplements - Vitamin E
- Introduction
- Vitamin A
- The B vitamins
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Calcium
- Iodine
- Iron
- Other vitamins and minerals
Vitamin E has several important functions. For example, it helps maintain cell structure by protecting cell membranes.
Good sources of vitamin E
Vitamin E is found in a wide variety of foods. The richest sources are plant oils such as soya, corn and olive oil.
Other good sources include:
- nuts and seeds
- wheat germ, found in cereals and cereal products
How much vitamin E do I need?
The amount of vitamin E you need is:
- 4mg a day for men
- 3mg a day for women
You should be able to get all the vitamin E you need from your daily diet.
Any vitamin E your body does not need immediately is stored for future use, so you do not need it in your diet every day.
What happens if I take too much vitamin E?
There is not enough evidence to know what the effects might be of taking high doses of vitamin E supplements each day.
What does the Department of Health advise?
You should be able to get the amount of vitamin E you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take vitamin E supplements, do not take too much.
Taking 540mg or less a day of vitamin E supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.
© Crown Copyright 2009
