Special Report – Vitamin E
Everything about vitamin E and why we need it
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By Dr. Justine Butler, Senior Researcher & Writer, Viva
Vitamin E is an ‘essential’ vitamin – meaning your body needs it to function. This fat-soluble antioxidant helps protect our cells, the membranes that surround them and the molecules that lie within them, from free radical damage. It also helps to keep our organs – such as our blood vessels and eyes – functioning and healthy. As part of our immune system, it strengthens our natural defence against illness and infection. So it’s pretty important all round!
HOW MUCH DO WE NEED?
For women, the UK Food Standards Agency recommends a daily intake of 3 milligrams, and 4 milligrams for men. However, this is just an ‘adequate amount’; other countries have higher recommended levels – the US recommendation is 15 milligrams a day, for both men and women, while the European Union recommends 11 milligrams a day for women and 13 for men.