The optimum daily intake of vitamin E for adult men/women is 400 to 800 IU (international units).

Vitamin E is considered non-toxic. There is no well-documented toxicity for vitamin E in doses of 800 to 1,200 IU per day.

There are 2 conditions for which it is best to start with small doses of vitamin E, gradually increasing the amount:

1) in high blood pressure patients - taking large doses in someone not accustomed to it can cause an initial increase in blood pressure; and,

2) chronic rheumatic heart disease patients need to be started with low doses.


Here are some health problems that have been discussed on this forum, which vitamin E will benefit:

Vitamin E and Environmental Toxins (like mercury!):
Vitamin E's antioxidant effects will help protect the body from mercury, lead, carbon tetrachloride, benzene, ozone, nitrous oxide, and a variety of other carcinogens and toxins.

In fact, way back in 1980, an article was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal, "Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences," stating that "It is well established that the toxicity of silver and methylmercury is suppressed by the presence of low levels of vitamin E or selenium in the diet."

A more recent article published in the "Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients" (May 2001) states that "Vitamin E works with selenium to neutralize mercury."

Vitamin E and Glandular/Hormone Function:
Vitamin E prevents both the pituitary and adrenal hormones from being oxidized. Vitamin E deficiency causes a reduction in the level of functioning of the pituitary and adrenal glands.

Vitamin E and Calcium:
Vitamin E also appears to be involved in calcium metabolism, correcting deposition in the body of either too little or too much.

Vitamin E and Leg Pain:
Vitamin E is able to bring relief to intermittent claudication - a severe pain in calf muscles which results from inadequate blood supply caused by arterial spasm, "restless legs", and atherosclerosis.

Vitamin E and Headaches:
Vitamin E is used for easing headaches because it preserves the oxygen in the blood for an extended period, which results in more efficiency as the blood is pumped through the blood vessels of the head. Vitamin E has also relieved migraine attacks.

Vitamin E and Eyesight:
Ingestion of large amounts of vitamin E have even improved nearsightedness and crossed eyes, plus recent studies indicate vitamin E may also reduce the risk of developing cataracts.

In fact, the "Townsend Letter" article mentioned above also states that "Methyl mercury inhibits acetylcholine synthesis, an essential neurotransmitter, resulting in loss of short- and long-term memory, poor concentration, cognitive dysfunction, incoordination and gait abnormalities, visual and auditory disturbances, i.e., blindness and deafness, decreased and/or aberrations of the sense of taste and smell, slurred speech, tingling and numbness of the extremities, especially of the hands and feet, tremors of the head and limbs, weakness and f atigue; all symptoms which are pathognomonic of multiple sclerosis. [Perhaps the "funny" vision problem you mentioned is actually due to an increase in mercury levels in your blood due to detoxification...you might want to take Algin to help reduce your mercury levels and/or slow down your detox program.]

Other Benefits of Vitamin E:
Not to mention vitamin E's beneficial effects on cancer, cardiovascular disease, wound healing, immune health, nervous system health, fibrocystic breast disease, menopause and PMS, etc.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of mis-information circulating about vitamin supplements, which I whole-heartedly believe is propagated by the pharmaceutical industries. Think about it...if you could solve your health problems by taking some vitamins and minerals, the drug companies and doctors would be out of business (and then where would they get the money to pay for their Mercedes Benz and Jaguar payments)!

If it wasn't so evil, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> I would laugh at all the ridiculous news stories I see on CNN, etc. that claim that vitamin E (or vitamin C, or countless other vitamins and minerals) don't work or can be toxic...when decades of scientific studies have proven just the opposite! Instead, they want us to believe that in order to be healthy, we need to take Allegra (for our allergies), and Lipitor (for our cholesterol), and Vioxx (for our arthritis), and on and on, when in reality, these health problems are almost always traceable to a vitamin/mineral deficiency that in fact, may very well be caused by something like, what...mercury?!!!!

I'd recommend the following references to help you learn more about the "real" benefits and cautions of vitamins and minerals:

The Natural Pharmacy

Nutrition Almanac

The Real Vitamin & Mineral Book


I hope this information helps to put some fears at rest. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />