VITAMINE (Systemic)

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.?

• Amino-Opti-E
• Aquasol E
• E-Complex-600
• E-200 I.U. Softgels
• E-1000 I.U. Softgels
• E-400 I.U. in a Water Soluble Base
• E-Vitamin Succinate
• Liqui-E
• Pheryl-E
• Vita Plus E

In Canada?

• Aquasol E
• Webber Vitamin E

Generic name product may be available in the U.S. and Canada.

Another commonly used name is alpha tocopherol.

Category

• Nutritional supplement, vitamin

Description

Vitamins (VYE-ta-mins) are compoundsthat you must have for growth and health. Theyare needed in only small amounts and are available in the foods that you eat.Vitamin E prevents a chemical reaction called oxidation, which can sometimesresult in harmful effects in your body. It is also important for the properfunction of nerves and muscles.

Some conditions may increase your need for vitamin E. These include:

• Intestine disease
• Liver disease
• Pancreas disease
• Surgical removal of stomach

Increased need for vitamin E should be determined by your health care professional.

Infants who are receiving a formula that is not fortified with vitaminE may be likely to have a vitamin E deficiency. Also, diets high in polyunsaturatedfatty acids may increase your need for vitamin E.

Claims that vitamin E is effective for treatment of cancer and for preventionor treatment of acne, aging, loss of hair, bee stings, liver spots on thehands, bursitis, diaper rash, frostbite, stomach ulcer, heart attacks, laborpains, certain blood diseases, miscarriage, muscular dystrophy, poor posture,sexual impotence, sterility, infertility, menopause, sunburn, and lung damagefrom air pollution have not been proven. Although vitamin E is being usedto prevent certain types of cancer, there is not enough information to showthat this is effective.

Lack of vitamin E is extremely rare, except in people who have a diseasein which it is not absorbed into the body.

Vitamin E is available without a prescription in the following dosage forms:

Oral
• Capsules (U.S. and Canada)
• Oral solution (U.S. and Canada)
• Tablets (U.S.)
• Chewable tablets (U.S.)

Importance of Diet

Vitamin E is found in various foods including vegetable oils (corn, cottonseed,soybean, safflower), wheat germ, whole-grain cereals, and green leafy vegetables.Cooking and storage may destroy some of the vitamin E in foods.

Vitamin supplements alone will not take the place of a good diet and willnot provide energy. Your body also needs other substances found in food suchas protein, minerals, carbohydrates, and fat. Vitamins themselves often cannotwork without the presence of other foods. For example, small amounts of fatare needed so that vitamin E can be absorbed into the body.

The daily amount of vitamin E needed is defined in several different ways.

For U.S.?
• Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are the amount of vitaminsand minerals needed to provide for adequate nutrition in most healthy persons.RDAs for a given nutrient may vary depending on a person's age, sex, and physicalcondition (e.g., pregnancy).
• Daily Values (DVs) are used on food and dietary supplement labelsto indicate the percent of the recommended daily amount of each nutrient thata serving provides. DV replaces the previous designation of United StatesRecommended Daily Allowances (USRDAs).

For Canada?
• Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNIs) are used to determine the amountsof vitamins, minerals, and protein needed to provide adequate nutrition andlessen the risk of chronic disease.

Vitamin E is available in various forms, including d- or dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate, d- or dl-alpha tocopherol,and d- or dl-alphatocopheryl acid succinate. In the past, the RDA for vitamin E have been expressedin Units. This term has been replaced by alpha tocopherol equivalents (alpha-TE)or milligrams (mg) of d-alpha tocopherol. OneUnit is equivalent to 1 mg of dl-alpha tocopherolacetate or 0.6 mg d-alpha tocopherol. Most productsavailable in stores continue to be labeled in Units.

Normal daily recommended intakes in milligrams (mg) of alpha tocopherolequivalents (mg alpha-TE) and Units for vitamin E are generally defined asfollows:

Persons	U.S.		Canada
	mg alpha-TE	Units	mg alpha-TE	Units
Infants and children Birth to 3 years of age	3-6	5-10	3-4	5-6.7
4 to 6 years of age	7	11.7	5	8.3
7 to 10 years ofage	7	11.7	6-8	10-13
Adolescent and adult males	10	16.7	6-10	10-16.7
Adolescent and adult females	8	13	5-7	8.3-11.7
Pregnant females	10	16.7	8-9	13-15
Breast-feeding females	11-12	18-20	9-10	15-16.7

Before Using This Dietary Supplement

If you are taking this dietary supplement without a prescription, carefullyread and follow any precautions on the label. For vitamin E, the followingshould be considered:

Allergies?Tell your health care professional if you have everhad any unusual or allergic reaction to vitamin E. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods,preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy?It is especially important that you are receivingenough vitamins when you become pregnant and that you continue to receivethe right amount of vitamins throughout your pregnancy. The healthy growthand development of the fetus depend on a steady supply of nutrients from themother. However, taking large amounts of a dietary supplement during pregnancymay be harmful and should be avoided.

Breast-feeding?It is especially important that you receive theright amounts of vitamins so that your baby will also get the vitamins neededto grow properly. You should also check with your health care professionalif you are giving your baby an unfortified formula. In that case, the babymust get the vitamins needed some other way. However, taking large amountsof a dietary supplement while breast-feeding may be harmful to the motherand/or baby and should be avoided.

Children?Problems in children have not been reported withintake of normal daily recommended amounts. You should check with your healthcare professional if you are giving your baby an unfortified formula. In thatcase, the baby must get the vitamins needed some other way. Some studies haveshown that premature infants may have low levels of vitamin E. Your healthcare professional may recommend a vitamin E supplement.

Older adults?Problems in older adults have not been reported withintake of normal daily recommended amounts.

Medicines or other dietary supplements?Although certain medicines or dietary supplements should not be used togetherat all, in other cases they may be used together even if an interaction mightoccur. In these cases, your health care professional may want to change thedose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professionalif you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter[OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of vitamin E. Make sure you tell your health careprofessional if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Bleeding problems?Vitamin E, when taken in doses greater than800 Units a day for long periods of time, may make this condition worse

Proper Use of This Dietary Supplement

Dosing?The amount of vitamin E needed to meet normaldaily recommended intakes will be different for different individuals. Thefollowing information includes only the average amounts of vitamin E.

• For oral solution dosage form:
  • To prevent the following deficiencies in infants:
    • Infants receiving a formula high in polyunsaturated fatty acids?15to 25 Units per day or 7 Units per 32 ounces of formula.
    • Infants with certain colon problems?15 to 25 Units per kilogram(kg) (6.8 to 11 Units per pound) of body weight per day. The water-solubleform of vitamin E must be used.
    • Infants of normal birthweight?5 Units per 32 ounces of formula.
• For oral dosage forms (capsules, tablets,oral solution):
  • To prevent deficiency for individuals (other than infants), the amounttaken by mouth is based on normal daily recommended intakes:
    For the U.S.
    • Adult and teenage males?10 milligrams (mg) of alpha tocopherolequivalents (mg alpha-TE) or 16.7 Units per day.
    • Adult and teenage females?8 mg alpha-TE or 13 Units per day.
    • Pregnant females?10 mg alpha-TE or 16.7 Units per day.
    • Breast-feeding females?11 to 12 mg alpha-TE or 18 to 20 Unitsper day.
    • Children 4 to 10 years of age?7 mg alpha-TE or 11.7 Units perday.
    • Children birth to 3 years of age?3 to 6 mg alpha-TE or 5 to10 Units per day.
    For Canada
    • Adult and teenage males?6 to 10 mg alpha-TE or 10 to 16.7 Unitsper day.
    • Adult and teenage females?5 to 7 mg alpha-TE or 8.3 to 11.7Units per day.
    • Pregnant females?8 to 9 mg alpha-TE or 13 to 15 Units per day.
    • Breast-feeding females?9 to 10 mg alpha-TE or 15 to 16.7 Unitsper day.
    • Children 7 to 10 years of age?6 to 8 mg alpha-TE or 10 to 13Units per day.
    • Children 4 to 6 years of age?5 mg alpha-TE or 8.3 Units perday.
    • Children birth to 3 years of age?3 to 4 mg alpha-TE or 5 to6.7 Units per day.
  • To treat deficiency:
    • Adults, teenagers, and children?Treatment dose is determinedby prescriber for each individual based on the severity of deficiency.

For individuals taking the oral liquid form of thisdietary supplement:

• This preparation should be taken by mouth even though it comes ina dropper bottle.
• This dietary supplement may be dropped directly into the mouth ormixed with cereal, fruit juice, or other food.

Missed dose?If you miss taking a vitamin for one or more daysthere is no cause for concern, since it takes some time for your body to becomeseriously low in vitamins. However, if your health care professional has recommendedthat you take this vitamin, try to remember to take it as directed every day.

Storage?To store this dietary supplement:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in otherdamp places. Heat or moisture may cause the dietary supplement to break down.
• Keep the oral liquid form of this dietary supplement from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated dietary supplements or those no longer needed.Be sure that any discarded dietary supplement is out of the reach of children.

Side Effects of This Dietary Supplement

Along with its needed effects, a dietary supplement may cause some unwantedeffects. When used for short periods of time at recommended doses, vitaminE usually does not cause any side effects. However, check with your healthcare professional as soon as possible if any of the following side effectsoccur:

With doses greater than 400 Units a day and long-term use

Other side effects not listed above mayalso occur in some individuals. If you notice any other effects, check withyour health care professional.