Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin and can be stored in the body. There are eight different forms of vitamin E and each vitamin's function depends on its potency. Vitamin E has many health benefits for your body, including the prevention of the chemical reaction called oxidation. Oxidation takes place when a free radical quickly reacts with a protein, fat or carbohydrate. The free radical can alter its target's function, thus leading to malignancy or disease.
Cell Protection
Vitamin E is an antioxidant, which means it protects your cells from dangerous free radicals. Free radicals are by-products of your body's metabolism and can lead to damage of your cells that may cause cardiovascular disease and cancers, such as melanoma. You can also be exposed to free radicals from environmental elements like air pollution and UV rays.
Stomach/Heart Health
Vitamin E is essential for stomach health. It may block the development of nitrosamines, which are carcinogens formed in the stomach from nitrates consumed in your diet. Nitrates are found in processed deli meats, such as turkey breast. If you are healthy and supplement with a small dose of vitamin E you may reduce your risk of heart attacks. If you have pre-existing coronary heart disease you may need to supplement with a larger dose to reduce the risk.
Eye Health
Vitamin E is beneficial to the health of your eyes. Vitamin E may prevent the formation of cataracts. Cataracts are growths on the lens of your eye that clouds your vision and may increase the risk of blindness in older adults. Lens clarity -- used to diagnose cataracts -- has been clearer in individuals who supplement with vitamin E, according to The Vitamins and Nutrition Center.
Dosage
If you are a healthy adolescent or adult, the recommended dietary allowance for vitamin E is 30IU's per day, notes The Vitamins and Nutrition Center. However, many benefits of vitamin E do not appear until at least 400IU's are supplemented each day. For example, if you have pre-existing coronary heart disease you should supplement with 800IU to 1600IU's per day. Infants who receive formula that is not fortified with vitamin E may develop a deficiency -- and if you consume a diet high in polyunsaturated fats your need for vitamin E may increase, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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