Vitamin E Skin

Q: I’ve noticed vitamin E 400 IU is becoming a popular strength. Is it better to take more or can you overdose on vitamin E?

A: This is a very important issue to address, as many people seem to assume that vitamins are always safe, regardless of the dosage… nothing could be further from the truth. Before we discuss this, I would like to mention that I am in no way a medical professional, so please realize nothing I say on this site should be misconstrued as medical advice. Rather, you should view this information as simply talking points you can bring up with your doctor – only they can tell you the proper dosage.

Fact #1: It is possible to overdose on vitamin E
Vitamin E is fat soluble, which means it dissolves in fat and can sometimes accumulate there. This is the opposite of water soluble vitamins, like C, which exits our body in the same way food and beverages do. Therefore, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude that taking excessive doses of vitamin E is not a good idea. Since vitamin E 400 IU is a high dose, it’s one you have to be particularly careful with.

Fact #2: Vitamin E 400 IU is over 17x the RDA
Did you know the adult recommended daily allowance is only 22.5 IU?  There are some people who allege that the RDA of 22.5 IU is outdated and that number needs to be increased. Since the Tolerable Upper Intake Levels is reportedly 1,500 IU for adults according to the NIH, many claim that vitamin E 400 IU is an optimal choice. However on the flip side, there are bodies of research which suggest taking massive doses per day might be extremely dangerous. According to the UK National Health Service, they advise against pregnant women from taking vitamin E supplements, due to usage possibly being linked to heart defects in newborns. But whatever your opinion may be, it’s important to go along with your doctor’s dosage recommendation.

Conclusion
Vitamin E 400 IU is an extremely strong strength of this nutrient, so it’s important to use with caution and only under the supervision of your doctor. Also, rather than taking the artificial version (DL-alpha tocopherol) which is used in the vast majority of supplements, it may be better to talk to your doctor about using natural vitamin E.