Vitamin
Vitamin E
Also known as: Alpha-tocopherol, d-alpha-tocopherol, Tocopherol, Tocotrienol
A fat-soluble antioxidant vitamin that protects cells from free radical damage and supports immune and cardiovascular health. The dl-form (synthetic) is bioequivalent to natural alpha-tocopherol.
Last reviewed June 2026 · Evidence graded from peer-reviewed research, not editorial opinion. Educational only — not medical advice.
Every Vitamin E product we have scored
| # | Product | Score | Per serving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thorne Ultimate-E® | 96 A | $0.33 |
| 2 | Life Extension Super Selenium Complex & Vitamin E | 91 A | $0.10 |
| 3 | Thorne Thyroid Health Complex | 90 A | $0.33 |
| 4 | Pure Encapsulations EyeProtect Basics without zinc | 90 A | $1.00 |
| 5 | Pure Encapsulations Vitamin E (with mixed tocopherols) | 89 A | $0.38 |
| 6 | Pure Encapsulations EyeProtect Basics | 89 A | $1.05 |
| 7 | MegaFood Skin, Nails & Hair 2 | 89 A | $0.87 |
| 8 | Pure Encapsulations Q-Gel 100 (Hydrosoluble CoQ10) | 89 A | $2.34 |
| 9 | Thorne Advanced Nutrients | 88 A | $2.40 |
| 10 | Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day | 88 A | $0.60 |
| 11 | Thorne Basic Prenatal | 88 A | $1.23 |
| 12 | Thorne Men's Multi 50+ | 88 A | $1.87 |
Scored on dose accuracy, form, label transparency and third-party testing. Per-serving cost is list price divided by servings per container. No brand pays to be listed or ranked.
Common questions
How much Vitamin E should I take?
The typical range is 100-400 IU daily. Long-term at moderate doses
When should I take Vitamin E?
With fat-containing meal. Yes.
Which form of Vitamin E is best?
Mixed tocopherols softgel — Preferred. Other forms in the catalog: Full spectrum with tocotrienols, Annatto-derived, Palm-derived, Mixed tocopherols, d-alpha-tocopherol, Synthetic (dl-), Tocotrienols, dl-Alpha tocopheryl acetate (synthetic), d-Alpha tocopherol (natural), dl-alpha tocopherol (synthetic), d-α-tocopheryl acetate, d-α-tocopherol.
Is Vitamin E safe?
Commonly reported: Well tolerated. Serious warnings: May increase bleeding risk at high doses. Safe
Which Vitamin E supplement scores highest?
Thorne Ultimate-E®, at 96/100. Scored on dose accuracy, form, label transparency and third-party testing — no brand pays to be listed or ranked.
Daily target & upper limit
15 mg / day · UL 1000 mgVitamin E has an established daily reference intake. See best forms, label synonyms, upper-limit warnings, and top-scoring supplements:
Vitamin E dosage reference →Primary uses
- Antioxidant protection
- Skin health
- Cell membrane integrity
- Cardiovascular health
- Neuroprotection
- Cholesterol support
- Skin protection
- Scar healing
- Dry skin
- Immune support
- T-cell function
What systematic reviews concluded
Outcomes that systematic reviews of Vitamin E reached a verdict on: 4 with a benefit, 1 with no effect, 4 unclear. Each is quoted from a review and linked to it on PubMed. How these were read.
Reviews found a benefit (4)
“L-arginine-VB-VC-VE) [Odds ratio (OR)=0.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.20, 0.54)]” PMID 42397815
“Supplementation with antioxidant vitamins effectively reduced the severity of dysmenorrhea, improved dyspareunia and pelvic pain, and enhanced quality of life in these patients.” PMID 37644533 · 2 reviews
“This intervention significantly decreased oxidative stress markers, including malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS).” PMID 41683896
“In our experiments, most nutraceuticals did not reduce intracellular triglycerides, with the exception of vitamin E.” PMID 41683214
Reviews found no effect (1)
“However, their effects on glycemic control, diastolic blood pressure, and blood lipids other than HDL were comparable.” PMID 41521729
Not enough to say: sperm parameters; heart disease risk; hdl cholesterol; seborrheic dermatitis.
4 findings from reviews in specific patient groups (such as cancer, pregnancy or surgery) are not shown here.
How it works
- Lipid peroxidation chain breaker
- Cell membrane protection
- Gene expression
Dosage
- Typical range
- 100-400 IU daily
- Timing
- With fat-containing meal
- With food
- Yes
- Duration
- Long-term at moderate doses
- Special populations
- Avoid high doses before surgery
Forms
- Mixed tocopherols softgel
- Full spectrum with tocotrienols
- Annatto-derived
- Palm-derived
- Mixed tocopherols
- d-alpha-tocopherol
- Synthetic (dl-)
- dl-Alpha tocopheryl acetate (synthetic)· 70/100
- d-Alpha tocopherol (natural)· 70/100
- dl-alpha tocopherol (synthetic)· 70/100
- d-α-tocopheryl acetate· 70/100
- d-α-tocopherol· 70/100
Safety
Common side effects
- Well tolerated
Contraindications
- Bleeding disorders
- Pre-surgery
Products containing Vitamin E
Top-scoring supplements in our catalog that list Vitamin E on the label. Each product is graded on Formulate's ingredient-level rubric — dose accuracy, form, transparency, and third-party testing.
Known interactions
Evidence notes
Essential antioxidant vitamin
Grade A: Multiple well-designed human trials support the main claims.
Cited research for Vitamin E
Clinical studies referenced across Formulate guides that mention vitamin e. Each links to the full study page with PubMed source + the guides that cite it.
- Loguercio C, Andreone P, Brisc C, et al. (2012)Free Radical Biology and Medicine
Silybin combined with phosphatidylcholine and vitamin E in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
- Lippman SM, Klein EA, Goodman PJ, et al. (2009)JAMA
Effect of selenium and vitamin E on risk of prostate cancer and other cancers: the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT)
Related in Vitamin
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Medical disclaimer. This page is educational and does not replace advice from a qualified healthcare provider. Individual needs and risks vary — consult a professional before starting, stopping, or combining supplements, especially if you are pregnant or nursing, taking medication, or managing a health condition.