From the early years of your life, you might remember your parents touting the benefits of vitamins and minerals as they encouraged you to eat your vegetables. And although vitamins are necessary for good health and proper body functioning, too much of the beneficial substances can actually harm your health. Although excessive vitamin E and joint pain might seem to be related, there are several other factors to consider.
Identification
Along with vitamins A, D and K, vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin required for normal body functioning. In its most biologically active form, vitamin E is considered a powerful antioxidant. Vitamin E is found naturally in a wide variety of food sources. Foods with the highest vitamin E content include nuts and seeds, specifically almonds, sunflower seeds and hazelnuts. Vitamin E is also found in fortified breakfast cereals, peanut butter, sweet potatoes, vegetable oils, whole grains, fish and leafy green vegetables.
Benefits
As an antioxidant, vitamin E helps protect the body from dangerous free radicals. Since free radicals are thought to contribute to the development of cancer and certain cardiovascular diseases, vitamin E may help prevent these conditions. Along with acting as an antioxidant, vitamin E also inhibits blood clots, enhances the immune system and relieves inflammation within the body. Vitamin E is also used to slow cognitive decline and prevent certain eye disorders such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
Recommended Daily Allowance
According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, the recommended daily allowance of vitamin E varies based on age. From birth to six months, 4 mg of vitamin E is recommended per day. From 7 to 12 months, the recommended daily allowance increases to 5 mg of vitamin E. The daily vitamin E intake should increase to 6 mg between the ages of one and three, and increase again to 7 mg between the ages of four and eight. Between the ages of nine and 13, the recommended vitamin E intake jumps to 11 mg daily. After the age of 14, a daily intake of 15 mg of vitamin E is recommended. However, women should increase their daily intake to 19 mg while lactating.
Overdose
As with any vitamin, there are certain health risks associated with taking doses in excess of the recommended daily allowance. However, the Office of Dietary Supplements explains that most adults can safely consume up to 1,000 mg of vitamin E per day. The most common complication associated with excess amounts of vitamin E is the risk of hemorrhage. Since vitamin E affects the blood's ability to clot, excess vitamin E may lead to excessive bleeding. This complication is particularly dangerous in patients already taking blood-thinning medications such as warfarin.
Joint Pain
As of December 2010, excess vitamin E has not been associated with joint pain. However, joint pain has been associated with excess amounts of vitamin A, calcium and the mineral molybdenum. Review the ingredient label on your vitamin E package. The vitamin E may be combined with other vitamins and minerals as a multivitamin supplement. In this case, one of the other ingredients is likely causing your joint pain.
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