Vitamin E is an important nutrient and a great antioxidant for the body, but who should not take this vitamin?

1. Does Vitamin E Have Side Effects?

• When taken by mouth: Vitamin E is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken at recommended doses. The risk of side effects increases with higher doses. Side effects may include nausea, fatigue, headache, and bleeding.
• When applied to the skin: Vitamin E is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people.
• When inhaled: Vitamin E is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. The use of e-cigarettes and other vaping products containing vitamin E acetate has been linked to serious lung damage in some people.

According to Drugs, get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to vitamin E, such as: Hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Vitamin E is a very healthy antioxidant, but some people should not take it.

Using high doses may increase your risk of some side effects, which may be serious:

• Easy bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums), unusual vaginal bleeding, bleeding that doesn’t stop.
• Heart problems, symptoms of a heart attack – chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to the jaw or shoulder.
• Swelling, rapid weight gain.
• Feeling short of breath.
• Nausea, sweating.
• Or sudden weakness (especially on one side of the body), severe headache, problems with speech or vision.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs.

2. Who should be careful when using vitamin E?

• Pregnant and breastfeeding women: Do not supplement vitamin E on your own, as it may affect the fetus and breastfed babies at certain stages. Only supplement vitamin E when prescribed by a doctor and do not exceed the recommended dose.
• Children: Do not supplement vitamin E on your own and do not exceed the recommended dose for children.
• People with bleeding disorders: Vitamin E can make bleeding disorders worse. If you have a bleeding disorder, avoid vitamin E supplements.
• People with heart disease: Vitamin E can increase the risk of death in people with a history of heart disease. Therefore, people with a history of heart disease should only use it as directed by their doctor and avoid taking more than the recommended dose.
• People with diabetes: Vitamin E can increase the risk of heart failure in people with diabetes. These people should only take supplements as directed by their doctor when necessary.
• People with head and neck cancer: Vitamin E can increase the risk of this cancer recurring. It is best to supplement through food only. Only take supplements when necessary as directed by your doctor.
• People with osteoporosis: Appropriate exercise helps improve bone strength in people with osteoporosis. If high doses of vitamin E and vitamin C are taken together with exercise, it may reduce the effectiveness of exercise on bone health.
• Prostate cancer: The effects of vitamin E in people who currently have prostate cancer are unclear, but it may make the condition worse.
• People with specific eye conditions: Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited eye condition that causes poor night vision and loss of vision in one eye. Synthetic vitamin E 400 IU appears to speed up vision loss in people with this condition. If you have this condition, it is best to avoid vitamin E supplements.
• Stroke: Vitamin E may increase the risk of death in some people with a history of stroke. People with a history of stroke should avoid taking doses of vitamin E greater than 400 IU per day.
• People preparing for surgery: Vitamin E may increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop taking vitamin E supplements at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.