Vitamin guide
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant nutrient. Products differ in dose, tocopherol form and whether they contain alpha-tocopherol alone or a broader mixture of tocopherols.
Compare products ↓What is vitamin E?
Vitamin E describes a family of fat-soluble compounds, including tocopherols and tocotrienols. In human nutrition, alpha-tocopherol is the form used for vitamin E dietary reference values because it is preferentially maintained in the body.
What does vitamin E support?
Vitamin E helps protect cells from oxidative stress. This is its established nutritional role and a central reason it features in antioxidant-focused supplements.
What happens if you don’t get enough vitamin E?
True vitamin E deficiency is rare in healthy people. When it does occur — usually because of disorders that impair fat absorption or rare inherited conditions — it can affect the nervous system and muscles, causing muscle weakness, poor coordination and nerve problems. Severe deficiency can also damage the retina.
Vitamin E deficiency symptoms are not typically seen in otherwise healthy people simply because estimated intake is below a dietary reference value. Persistent neurological symptoms need medical assessment rather than self-treatment with high-dose vitamin E.
Vitamin E in supplements vs skincare
Vitamin E appears in both oral supplements and topical skincare, but these are different product categories. In supplements, the authorised EU benefit is protection of cells from oxidative stress. In skincare, vitamin E is used in oils, creams and other topical formulas, where the complete formulation matters.
How much vitamin E do adults need?
The EU label NRV is 12 mg. EFSA’s adequate intake (AI), expressed as alpha-tocopherol, is 13 mg/day for adult men and 11 mg/day for adult women. These are dietary reference values, not automatic supplement doses.
Natural, synthetic and mixed tocopherols
Labels may use terms such as d-alpha-tocopherol for naturally sourced alpha-tocopherol and dl-alpha-tocopherol for synthetic all-racemic alpha-tocopherol. Some products also provide mixed tocopherols, which can include gamma-, delta- and beta-tocopherols. These terms describe source and formulation differences rather than a simple quality hierarchy.
What should you compare?
Vitamin E / day
Start with the labelled amount of vitamin E per recommended day.
Form
Check whether the product uses natural-source d-alpha-tocopherol, synthetic dl-alpha-tocopherol or another labelled form.
Mixed tocopherols
Some products provide additional tocopherols alongside alpha-tocopherol; treat this as a formulation difference rather than an automatic quality ranking.
Format
Vitamin E is fat-soluble and is commonly sold in oil-based softgels as well as capsules and combination products.
Product comparison
Compare vitamin E supplements
Compare vitamin E per day, form, tocopherol profile, serving, format and vegan suitability.
| Product | Vitamin E / day | Form | Tocopherol profile | Recommended serving | Format | Vegan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitaler’s Vitamin E DropsView product ↗ | 12 mg | Vitamin E in oil | Alpha-tocopherol | Recommended daily portion | Drops | Yes |
| Life Extension Gamma E with Tocopherols & TocotrienolsView product ↗ | 44.8 mg vitamin E | D-alpha-tocopherol + mixed tocopherols | Mixed tocopherols + palm-fruit tocotrienols | 1 softgel daily with food | Softgel | No |
| Solgar Natural Vitamin E 134 mg (200 IU)View product ↗ | 134 mg | d-alpha-tocopherol | Natural-source alpha-tocopherol | 1 softgel daily, preferably with a meal | Softgel | No – gelatin |
| Sunday Natural Vitamin E Natural Complex 200 IUView product ↗ | 235.4 mg | Natural vitamin E complex from rice oil | All 8 tocopherols + tocotrienols | 1 capsule daily with a fatty meal | HPMC capsule | Yes |
| Solgar Natural Vitamin E 268 mg (400 IU)View product ↗ | 268 mg | d-alpha-tocopherol | Natural-source alpha-tocopherol | 1 softgel daily, preferably with a meal | Softgel | No – gelatin |
EU health claim details
Authorised health claims
EU-authorised health claims (Article 13)● Vitamin E contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.Cell protection · General population
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin e.
General food: 1.8 mg / 100 g or 100 ml
Beverage: 0.9 mg / 100 ml
Single-portion pack: 1.8 mg per portion
Calculated from the EU NRV significant-amount reference. Claim-specific conditions take precedence.
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA opinion reference listed in the EU Register / Regulation (EU) No 432/2012
EU legal source
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 (consolidated 20 Aug 2025)
×Other assessed health claims (14)
Not authorised for use in the EUView claims ↓
Other assessed health claims (14)
Not authorised for use in the EU● Can neutralise free radicals and help maintain a healthy heart.Cardiac function ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1816
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
● Due to Vitamin E favourable effects on free radicals it could support reducing the age related cognitive decline.Cognitive function ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1816
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
● Helps memory and perception retention, especially in the elderly.Cognitive function ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1816
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
● Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails — assessed relationship: maintenance of normal bone.Bones ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1816
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
● Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails — assessed relationship: maintenance of normal hair.Hair ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1816
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
● Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails — assessed relationship: maintenance of normal nails.Nails ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1816
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
● Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails — assessed relationship: maintenance of normal skin.Skin ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1816
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
● Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails — assessed relationship: maintenance of normal teeth.Teeth ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1816
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
● Necessary to maintain energy and general vitality.General vitality ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1816
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because the claimed effect was not sufficiently defined to be assessed and therefore could not be substantiated.
● Protects the lens.Vision ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1816
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
● Regeneration of vitamin C.Vitamin C regeneration ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1816
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
● Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects the body's cells — assessed relationship: maintenance of the normal function of the immune system.Immune system ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1816
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
● Important for blood flow parameters.Blood circulation ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1816
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
● Support the microcirculation and the oxygenation of the scalp.Scalp microcirculation ·
Health functions (Article 13)
Condition of use
—
EFSA / scientific assessment
EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1816
EU legal source
—
Additional statement / restriction
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
Regulatory details
Check how the claims on this page are classified and where their regulatory information comes from.
View page-level details
- Ingredient
- Vitamin E
- Category
- Vitamin
- NRV
- 12 mg
- Authorised claims
- 1
- Other assessed claims
- 14
- Claim framework
- EU nutrition and health claims framework. Individual claim cards show the specific claim type, conditions of use, EFSA reference and legal source available in the version data.
Tip: expand any claim above for its claim-specific source details. The European Commission's EU Register is an information service; legal acts are the authoritative source for legal requirements, and some pending claims are not shown in the Register.
Claim use requirements
How much of this nutrient must a food contain for an EU health claim to be used?
0.9 mg / 100 ml for beverages
1.8 mg per portion if the package contains only one portion