Vitamin E naturally occurs in a variety of foods, but you can also find this fat-soluble vitamin in supplement form, often in oval-shaped, golden capsules filled with gel. The daily recommended intake of this vitamin stands at 15 mg, or 22.4 IU, for adults. If you are breastfeeding, you need more: 19 mg, or 28.4 IU. This vitamin offers a range of health benefits. Consult your physician before taking vitamin E for any medical condition.
Cancer Prevention
Taking vitamin E may reduce your risk of developing some types of cancer. Evidence in the March 2011 issue of "Current Drug Metabolism" correlates the consumption of vitamin E, an antioxidant, during pregnancy with a decrease in brain tumors in children as well as an increase in malignant brain tumors when the pregnant mother had low vitamin E intake. Researchers theorize that this effect occurs due to the antioxidant protection against free radicals and the inhibition of other mechanisms that contribute to brain tumor development.
Immune System Benefits
Include vitamin E in your diet or take a vitamin E capsule to boost your immune function. A study published in the 2011 edition of the journal "Vitamins and Hormones" indicates that the polyunsaturated fatty acid in this vitamin has a positive effect on the cells in your immune system. This helps rev up your immunity, particularly if you are elderly, so be sure to increase your intake of vitamin E during cold and flu season.
Fertility Benefits
If you and your partner experience fertility problems, consider getting more vitamin E in your meal plan. The January 2011 "International Journal of General Medicine" features a study that included nearly 700 infertile men. These study participants consumed 400 IU of vitamin E, along with selenium, over a 100-day period. Just over half of the participants demonstrated improvements to sperm, including motility and structure. Over 10 percent of test subjects achieved successful conception.
Insulin Use Benefits
You may experience a change in how your body uses insulin, which can cause your body to ineffectively use this compound to process glucose into energy. Taking vitamin E may help your body use insulin appropriately by returning it to a state of proper insulin sensitivity, according to a study published in the March 2011 issue of "Nutrition Reviews." This can be important if you experience insulin resistance, which, when left untreated or uncorrected, may lead to diabetes.
References
- Office of Dietary Supplements; Vitamin E; December 2009
- "Current Drug Metabolism"; Can Dietary Antioxidants Reduce the Incidence of Brain Tumors?; S.A. Sheweita, et al.; March 2011
- "Vitamins and Hormones"; Vitamin E and Immunity; D. Pekmezci; 2011
- "International Journal of General Medicine"; Selenium-Vitamin E Supplementation in Infertile Men: Effects on Semen Parameters and Pregnancy Rate; M.K. Moslemi, et al.; January 2011
- "Nutrition Reviews"; Vitamin E and Adiponectin: Proposed Mechanism for Vitamin E-induced Improvement in Insulin Sensitivity; B. Gray, et al.; March 2011
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