This is a tough question to answer because although there is an RDA (recommended daily allowance) for vitamin E, it is impossible to determine just who that “average” person is. The only honest answer that any doctor or health practitioner should give you is that vitamin E needs totally depend on multiple variables.
Let us take body size for example, the more you weigh and the heavier you are, the more vitamin E you will need to consume. Another variable to consider is whether or not you are getting enough vitamin E in your diet from certain plants and fish. And also note that if you are eating more fat than the average person, then you will need more vitamin E in your daily diet.
What is the recommended daily allowance of vitamin E based on?
The RDA of vitamin E is structured from what is called the natural alpha tocopherol. Tocopherol is the most active form of vitamin E. While scientists prefer to count the vitamin E in terms of international units, or IU for short, nutritionists tend to count vitamin E in terms of milligrams because many foods do contain tocopherols.
Is the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin E enough to promote good health?
This question comes up in regards to most vitamins and minerals that are labeled as the “minimum requirements”. And they are just that – minimum requirements. One cannot expect to take the smallest amount and think that they are going to achieve optimum health, regardless of what vitamin supplement they choose to take.
The fact is that most people should strive for higher amounts of RDAs in most every vitamin and mineral within their diet, especially for men and women who are extremely active and exercise on a regular basis. But as always, consult your doctor first before making any decisions.
How does a person know if they are deficient in vitamin E?
Ironically, vitamin E deficiency does not show any dramatic signs for a long time, even though serious long-term nerve damage can be the end result. Nerve damage typically happens within the spinal cord and has also been shown to damage the retina of the eyes. This is a very serious matter and it is absolutely necessary that you are getting at least the minimum requirements for vitamin E.
What medical conditions exist that could make a person deficient in vitamin E?
For most people, vitamin E deficiencies are not something they have to worry about. This is because vitamin E is abundant in many foods, even if a person is not attempting to get extra. However, there are some medical conditions that would make a person deficient. Here are a few: liver disease, Crohn's disease, eating a low-fat low-calorie diet (to the extreme), and taking drugs that are designed to lower your cholesterol.
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