The current vitamin E recommendation in the USA is not supported by new empirical evidence

What is it about?

The Dietary Reference Intakes -monograph of the USA states that the estimated average requirement (EAR) of vitamin E for men and women of any age is 12 mg/day. This EAR level is based on an old study with just 4 young males with experimental diets that contained large amounts of oxidized unsaturated fats not found in habitual diets. The outcome that was used as the basis of the EAR level was hydrogen peroxide-induced hemolysis, which is a surrogate endpoint without proven validity to any clinically relevant outcome such as mortality. However, an analysis of the large-scale Alpha-Tocopherol-Beta-Carotene (ABTC) Study in Finland found no support to the 12 mg/day level.

Featured Image