Myopathy is a clinical term that refers to a group of muscle-related disorders. Myopathy causes muscle fibers to work abnormally, resulting in a variety of symptoms. One cause of myopathy is a deficiency in vitamin E and, therefore, people who are deficient may benefit from taking supplements of this vitamin.
Muscle-related Symptoms
If you are concerned that a vitamin E deficiency is causing abnormal muscle functioning, it is important to know the possible symptoms. The National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke notes that the principle symptom of myopathy is muscle weakness. Other possible symptoms are muscle stiffness, cramps and spasms, which can cause significant pain. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, consult a medical professional to determine if the myopathy is due to a vitamin E deficiency.
People Affected
A vitamin E deficiency generally only affects people who are significantly malnourished or have a disease, such cystic fibrosis or cholestatic liver disease, which impairs the capacity to absorb dietary fat and, therefore, fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin E, notes the Linus Pauling Institute. Importantly, people who do not have these conditions or are not malnourished -- even those who typically eat foods low in vitamin E -- do not experience vitamin E deficiencies. Therefore, vitamin E-related myopathy is rare in otherwise healthy people.
Dose
The Institute of Medicine recommends that all adults over the age of 18 years obtain 15 mg of vitamin E each day. The upper tolerable intake level for supplemental vitamin E is 1,000 mg, or 1,500 IU, per day. Based on clinical trials, the dose often used for disease prevention and treatment for adults is 400 to 800 IU per day, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. As with all supplements, you should check with a health care provider before giving vitamin E to a child. Amounts over 1,000 mg per day may cause abnormal and excessive bleeding.
Precautions
If you are experiencing painful muscles, you may wish to take aspirin as a pain reliever. However, University of Maryland Medical Center recommends consulting a doctor before taking aspirin and vitamin E supplements at the same time, as both can increase the risk for excessive bleeding. It is possible that the combination of vitamin E to treat a deficiency-related muscle problems and aspirin to relieve pain may have positive effects, such as reducing your risk of stroke. To learn whether this combination can have beneficial or detrimental effects for you, check with your doctor before starting a regimen.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Vitamin E; Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; Dec. 2009
- Linus Pauling Institute; Vitamin E; Jane Higdon, Ph.D.; June 2008
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; NINDS Myopathy Information Page; June 2011
- Institute of Medicine: Dietary Reference Intakes -- Vitamins
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