- Deficiency may occur with malabsorption, cholestyramine, colestipol, isoniazid, orlistat, olestra and certain anti-convulsants (e.g., phenobarbital, phenytoin).
- In general, lipid peroxidation markers are elevated during vitamin E depletion and their levels can be normalized upon vitamin E repletion. However, these markers are not necessarily specific to vitamin E, since changes in intake of other antioxidants can also change the levels of these markers.
- Food sources include oils (olive, soy, corn, canola, safflower, sunflower), nuts, seeds, spinach, carrots, avocado, dark leafy greens and wheat germ.
Symptoms of a vitamin E deficiency include:
- Muscle weakness
- Slow reflexes
- Difficulty or unsteady walking
- Vision problems
Vitamin E deficiency is very rare in healthy people. Most of the time, vitamin E deficiency is caused by a condition where nutrients are not properly digested or absorbed. These include Crohn’s disease, liver disease, cystic fibrosis, and some rare genetic disorders. Vitamin E deficiency may also be caused by a very low-fat diet.
High levels:
Too much Vitamin E is rare. It can be caused by taking too many vitamins.
If not treated, excess vitamin E can lead to serious health problems, including an increased risk of stroke.
Symptoms of vitamin E excess include:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Fatigue
References:
- https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/vitamins/vitamin-e/
- https://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/42358
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