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Taking vitamin supplements has become a daily routine for many, because they are convinced it is a quick and convenient way to replenish the necessary daily dose of nutrients.
Vitamin E
Experts, however, agree that such an approach is not the best. We should be especially cautious about dosing vitamin EAccording to the results of research from a clinic in Cleveland, USA, daily use of vitamin E can cause more harm than good.
What do we need it for?
Vitamin E protects us from the effects of free radicals that are commonly formed in our body. These tiny foes weaken and break down healthy cells, shortening their lifespan. Thanks to vitamin E we can prevent that and thus slow the aging process of our cells. Significant sources of vitamin E are green leafy vegetables, vegetable oils, nuts, seeds and fish.
One reason people get used to supplementing vitamin E is the effort to prevent more serious chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases or cancer. It can, however, be an ally in skin problems as it speeds up wound and scar healing and can also mitigate the effects of harmful UV radiation. You may not know it, but doctors recommend this vitamin to their patients as supportive therapy for various conditions, including male fertility disorders, women’s menstrual cycle issues, respiratory diseases, muscle and joint conditions, anemia and many others.
What to watch out for?
Don’t overdo it! If you are healthy and have a varied diet, don’t overdo it. “It is stored in fat tissue, in the liver and in muscles. Your E reserves can last three to five years,” explains Dr. Béderová — vitamin E doesn’t get used up easily. You won’t overdose on it from food alone, but if you also take dietary supplements, you risk it. If you take more than two hundred and fifty milligrams daily over a long period, “nausea, vomiting, bloating and diarrhea, headache or double vision” may occur.
NIH states that accumulation of vitamin E does not represent a large risk, but its excessive use can be dangerous because high doses can increase the risk of bleeding by reducing the blood’s ability to form clots after injury or trauma. There is also a risk of bleeding into the brain known as a hemorrhagic stroke. Experts recommend keeping the upper limit of vitamin E supplements for adults (whether natural or synthetic) at 1,000 mg/day. However, they also warn that some studies indicate that taking it even below this threshold can cause problems. One study specifically found that in men who took 180 mg of a synthetic vitamin E supplement every day for several years, the risk of developing prostate cancer increased.
In the wrong combination it can cause more harm than good
Vitamin E is a very beneficial vitamin that plays a wide role in many processes in our body. Even so, in the wrong combination with medicines or dietary supplements it can do more harm than good. Before you decide to address your health problem, or just reinforce your health with this vitamin, consult your doctor. If you inform them about all the prescription and over-the-counter products you are taking, they will certainly advise you whether taking vitamin E is necessary and, above all, safe in your case.
Cyclosporine
In combination with high doses of vitamin E, adverse reactions can occur, because this vitamin can increase the effect of cyclosporine used to suppress immune responses (after organ transplantation, in severe psoriasis, kidney disease, severe rheumatoid arthritis).
Blood-thinning medicines
Vitamin E also slows blood clotting, which can, as a result of such concurrent use, lead to increased bleeding and bruising.
Medications metabolized in the liver
Vitamin E can reduce the effectiveness of such treatments. Since there are quite a few drugs broken down in the liver, consult your doctor about taking vitamin E.
Chemotherapy, radiotherapy – cancer patients are generally not recommended to take antioxidants, including vitamin E, because they can reduce the effectiveness of treatment.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women and small children are also not recommended to take vitamin E without prior consultation with a doctor.
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