You need to consume vitamin E in order to maintain a healthy system. If your levels of vitamin E are too low, you increase your risk of conditions like an impaired immune system and weakened muscles; however, as is the case with many important nutrients, consuming extremely high amounts of vitamin E can actually be harmful, rather than beneficial.
RDA
According to the Office of Dietary Supplements by the National Institutes of Health, the recommended daily intake of vitamin E for babies up to 6 months old is 4 mg, or 6 IU; from 7 to 12 months old, it is 5 mg or 7.5 IU. Between 1 and 3 years old, children need 6 mg or 9 IU per day; between 4 and 8 years old, they need 7 mg or 10.4 IU per day; and between 9 and 13 years old, they need 11 mg or 16.4 IU per day. Adults -- both male and female -- need 15 mg or 22.4 IU of vitamin E per day.
Effects
Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin that, when taken in normal, recommended doses, provides beneficial functions as an antioxidant, fighting potential damage from free radicals in your system. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, it also helps your body process vitamin K, as well as create new red blood cells.
Toxic Levels
Excess vitamin E levels in the body is sometimes referred to as vitamin E toxicity. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, there are no harmful side effects from consuming vitamin E in your diet; however, excess vitamin E supplementation can be harmful. 1,500 IU is the maximum safe daily consumption of natural vitamin E, and 1,100 is the maximum safe daily consumption of synthetic vitamin E.
Toxicity Symptoms
Consumption of vitamin E supplements in greater levels than the recommended safe upper limits could lead to an increased risk of bleeding-related disorders. For example, this excess of vitamin E could interfere with your body's ability to create blood clots when necessary. That means that a simple cut or minor scrape would continue to bleed, eventually becoming seriously harmful. Supplementing with too much vitamin E could also increase your risk of bleeding in your brain.
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