Vitamin E (Alpha-tocopherol)

Category:

  • Vitamin

Description:

  • Dietary supplement; fat-soluble vitamin

  Indications:

  • Vitamin E deficiency

  • Antioxidant

  • Development of heme (red blood cells), steroids and collagen

Contraindications:

  • Do not administer intravenously.

Precautions:

  • Pregnancy category A

  • Potency is expressed in the form of International Units (IU)

  • Patients may develop hypervitaminosis E with excessive dosages.  Symptoms of hypervitaminosis E are fatigue, weakness, nausea, headache, blurred vision, flatulence, and diarrhea.

  • Vitamin E may increase the effects of oral anticoagulants, possible bleeding may occur.

Adverse Reactions (Side Effects):

  • Relatively non-toxic in therapeutic doses

Dosage:

  • Dietary sources: vegetable oils, green vegetables (broccoli), whole grains, wheat germ, nuts

  • Administered in oral soft gelatin capsules and oral solution and drops

  • Dietary supplementation (RDA: recommended daily allowance):

    • Adult males: 15 IU per day

    • Adult females: 12 IU per day

 

Source: Operational Medicine 2001,  Health Care in Military Settings, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20372-5300

Gynecology and Obstetrics CD-ROM
Volumes 1-6
2004 Edition
 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
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