ConsumerLab.com Product Review: Vitamin E Supplements and Skin Care Products

Summary for non-subscribers:

Background:
Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) is an anti-oxidant that assists in maintaining cell integrity. It is easily obtained from sunflower, safflower, canola, and olive oils; also from many grains, nuts, fruits as well as fatty parts of meats.

Only a small amount of vitamin E is needed to meet normal daily requirements. However, research using vitamin E at far higher doses than the daily requirement has provided preliminary evidence that it may be helpful for preventing or treating various medical conditions. These uses include treating menstrual pain, cardiac autonomic neuropathy (a complication of diabetes), low sperm count, restless leg syndrome, inflammation of eye tissues, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and rheumatoid arthritis. Vitamin E also might improve seniors' immune response.

Vitamin E was long touted for preventing cardiovascular disease. But most of the recent studies have failed to support that premise. However, many of these studies looked only at people already at high risk for heart disease or with a prior history of the condition. Vitamin E also once was considered a promising treatment for preventing several kinds of cancer. However, current evidence points only to the prevention of prostate cancer.

A recent analysis of data from several clinical trials suggests that high-dose vitamin E (in excess of 400 IU per day) may actually raise the risk of death slightly in older individuals with existing medical conditions.

Topical formulations of vitamin E are used for a variety of purposes. Weak preliminary evidence hints that topical vitamin E might benefit blood circulation in people with diabetes and vitamin E may be of some benefit in preventing and treating sunburn. Vitamin E cream does not appear to help prevent surgical scarring.

Natural vs. Synthetic:
Vitamin E is not one single molecule but a family of related molecules called tocopherols and tocotrienols. There are several types of tocopherols and tocotrienols of which alpha-tocopherol is known to be the most biologically active. Consequently, vitamin E in supplements generally refers to alpha-tocopherol. Alpha-tocopherol itself can exist in eight different forms, but only half of these forms are known to be useful in the body.

Natural vitamin E contains alpha-tocopherol exclusively in an active form, either as d-alpha tocopherol ( or, more correctly, RRR-alpha-tocopherol) or stabilized as d-alpha tocopheryl acid succinate or d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate). Synthetic vitamin E (sometimes referred to as dl-alpha-tocopherol or, more correctly, all-rac-alpha tocopherol) contains both active and inactive forms of alpha-tocopherol. Natural vitamin E may also contain other types of tocopherols, such as beta-tocopherol, delta-tocopherol, and gamma-tocopherol. Some manufacturers use the term "mixed" tocopherols when referring to these different types. There are studies underway to determine whether gamma-tocopherol (which is more abundant in the diet than alpha-tocopherol) may be important for some of the beneficial effects associated with dietary vitamin E. At present, though, there is no hard evidence for this hypothesis. Note: Some evidence suggests that use of supplements containing high-dose alpha tocopherol alone may decrease body levels of gamma and delta tocopherol. The implications of this are unclear, but there are concerns that reduced levels of these natural tocopherols could be unhealthy. There may also be a role to be played by the tocotrienol compounds in lowering cholesterol and decreasing arterial plaque.

Recommended Daily Allowance:
The RDA for vitamin E is based only on active alpha-tocopherol. Consequently, the amount of vitamin E needed by individuals to meet the RDAs is different for natural versus synthetic vitamin E. Too much vitamin E may cause bleeding problems resulting in hemorrhaging. Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs) have been established to define safe vitamin E intake. (Subscribers see ConsumerTips™ section for listing of RDAs and ULs for both natural and synthetic forms of vitamin E).

The Test Results:
ConsumerLab.com, as part of its mission to independently evaluate products that affect health, wellness, and nutrition, purchased many of the leading vitamin E products sold in the U.S. and tested them for their quality. Thirty-four products were purchased: oral supplements (15 natural and 12 synthetic or synthetic/natural combination products), 2 creams or lotions, and 5 topical oils.

Four vitamin E products failed to pass testing for having either too little vitamin E or for being synthetic when claiming to be natural. These four products failed ConsumerLab.com's tests for the following reasons:

An oral supplement contained only 75% of its vitamin E despite claiming otherwise.
Another natural oral product contained some synthetic vitamin E.
A vitamin E cream contained only 58% of its expected amount.
A topical oil contained only 64% vitamin E, primarily synthetic when it claimed "pure, natural vitamin E".

A Sampling of Approved Products:
Listed alphabetically by category below are examples of products that passed. Names and test results for all 34 products that passed or failed, along with ConsumerLab.com's tips on buying and using vitamin E, are available only to subscribers. Just click Subscribe or, if you already are a subscriber, Log-in now. In addition, private-label products that have passed testing are listed in the Raw Material/Private Label Certification Program area."

EXAMPLES OF RESULTS OF CONSUMERLAB.COM TESTING OF VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENTS AND SKIN CARE PRODUCTS The complete list of results for this review contains 34 products and is available to subscribers. Log-in now or Subscribe. Click on for additional information on the product Click on beneath a product name to find a vendor that sells it. To find retailers that sell some of the listed products click here.
Product Name, Claimed Type and Amount of Key Vitamin E per Unit and Suggested Daily Dose on Label	Company (Dist. = Dist- ributor Mfd. = Manu- facturer	Claimed Amount of Vitamin E Per Unit and Natural (N) or Synthetic (S) Form	OVERALL RESULTS: APPROVED (Passed) or NOT APPROVED (Failed) (See How Products Were Evaluated)	Contained Claimed Amount of Vitamin E	Contained Claimed Form of Vitamin E
Oral Supplements:
*Natural Vitamin E:*
Carlson E-GEMS® Natural Vitamin E 400 IU (400 IU d-alpha tocopheryl acetate per softgel, 1 per day)*	Dist. by Carlson Division of J.R. Carlson Laboratories Inc	400 IU (N) Ingredients	APPROVED
CVS® Pharmacy Natural Vitamin E 400 IU (USP)(400 IU d-alpha tocopheryl acetate per softgel, 1 per day)*	Dist. by CVS Pharmacy, Inc.	400 IU (N) Ingredients	APPROVED
Nutrilite® Parselenium-E® (400 IU vitamin E succinate per tablet, 1 per day) *	Dist. by Access Business Group International LLC	400 IU (N) Ingredients	APPROVED
Pharmanex® LifePak® Dietary Supplement, New! Anti-Aging Formula (75 IU d-alpha tocopheryl acetate per packet, 2 per day)*	Dist. by Pharmanex, LLC	150 IU (N) Ingredients	APPROVED Also Approved for Alpha Lipoic Acid, B Vitamins, Multivitamins, and Vitamin C
Puritan's Pride® Natural Vitamin E-400 IU (d-Alpha, d-Beta, d-Gamma, d-Delta Tocopherols) (400 IU d-alpha, d-beta, d-gamma and d-delta tocopherols per softgel, 1 per day)*	Mfd. by Puritan's Pride Inc	400 IU (N) Ingredients	APPROVED
Solgar® Natural Vitamin E 400 IU(400 IU d-alpha tocopherol per softgel, 1 per day)*	Mfd. by Solgar Vitamin and Herb	400 IU (N) Ingredients	APPROVED
Spring Valley® Natural Vitamin E 400 IU d-alpha (400 IU d-alpha tocopherol per softgel, 1-3 per day) *	Dist. by Rexall Sundown, Inc	400 IU (N) Ingredients	APPROVED
Sundown® Benefits Natural E 400 IU (400 IU d-alpha tocopherol per softgel, 1-3 per day) *	Dist. by Rexall Sundown, Inc	400 IU (N) Ingredients	APPROVED
Vitamin World® Naturally Inspired™ 100% Natural E-400 IU USP d-alpha tocopheryl (400 IU d-alpha tocopheryl acetate per softgel, 1 per day) *	Mfd. by Vitamin World, Inc	400 IU (N) Ingredients	APPROVED
Vitamin World® Naturally Inspired™ Natural Vitamin E 400 IU, (d-Alpha, d-Beta, d-Gamma, d-Delta Tocopherols) (400 IU d-alpha, d-beta, d-gamma and d-delta tocopherols per softgel, 1 per day)*	Mfd. by Vitamin World, Inc	400 IU (N) Ingredients	APPROVED
*Synthetic or Synthetic & Natural Vitamin E:*
CVS® Pharmacy Water solubilized Vitamin E 400 IU USP (400 IU dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate per softgel, 1 per day)*	Dist. by CVS Pharmacy Inc	400 IU (S) Ingredients	APPROVED
Nature Made® Vitamin E 400 IU Supplement USP (400 IU dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate per softgel, 1-2 per day)*	Dist. by Nature Made Nutritional Products	400 IU (S) Ingredients	APPROVED
Origin® Vitamin E USP 400 IU (400 IU dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate per softgel, 1 per day) *	Dist. by Target Corporation	400 IU (S) Ingredients	APPROVED
Puritan's Pride® Vitamin E-400 IU USP (400 IU dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate per softgel, 1 per day)*	Mfd. by Puritan's Pride, Inc	400 IU (S) Ingredients	APPROVED
Spring Valley® Vitamin E 1000 IU (In a water soluble base) USP (1000 IU dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate per softgel, 1 per day)*	Mfd. by Nature's Bounty, Inc	1000 IU (S) Ingredients	APPROVED
Sundown® Benefits E 400 IU (400 IU dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate per softgel, 1-3 per day) *	Dist. by Rexall Sundown Inc	400 IU (S) Ingredients	APPROVED**
Vitamin World® Vitamin E-400 I.U. USP (400 IU dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate per softgel, 1 per day)*	Mfd. by Vitamin World Inc	400 IU (S) Ingredients	APPROVED
Topical Oils:
Puritan's Pride ® Natural Vitamin E-Oil (30,000 IU) Vegetarian Formula 2.5 fl.oz (74mL)* (405.4 IU d-alpha tocopheryl acetate per mL, 0.25 mL (5 drops) per day)	Mfd. by Puritan's Pride Inc	405.4 IU/mL (N) Ingredients	APPROVED
Vitamin World® Pure E-Oil 70,000 IU, 2.5 fl.oz (75mL)* (933 IU tocopheryl acetate per mL, dose not stated)	Mfd. by Vitamin World Inc	933 IU/mL (Form not stated) Ingredients	APPROVED
N/A — Not applicable. Unable to rate against claim because amount and form of vitamin E not stated on label. Tested through CL's Voluntary Certification Program prior to, at time of, or after initial posting of this Product Review. Exceeds tolerable upper intake level (UL) for adults for vitamin E. See ConsumerTips for more information about UL. **Amount found on testing — amount not stated on label.
Unless otherwise noted, information about the products listed above is based on the samples purchased by ConsumerLab.com (CL) for this Product Review. Manufacturers may change ingredients and label information at any time. So be sure to check labels carefully when evaluating the products you use or buy. If a product's ingredients differ from what is listed above, it may not necessarily be of the same quality as what was tested. The information contained in this report is based on the compilation and review of information from product labeling and analytic testing. CL applies what it believes to be the most appropriate testing methods and standards. The information in this report does not reflect the opinion or recommendation of CL, its officers or employees. CL cannot assure the accuracy of information provided to it by third parties. Liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in this report is hereby disclaimed.
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