Vitamin E: What's It Good For?

You probably get enough, but not getting as much as you should can be serious. Your body needs fat to absorb vitamin E, so people with certain digestive problems may not get what they need. This can damage your nerves, eyes, and immune system.

The best source of vitamin E is something called wheat germ oil. If you’re all out of that, you can get it from sunflower seeds, almonds, safflower oil, and hazelnuts. Peanut butter and spinach are two other options.

Oils and lotions with vitamin E can help with skin inflammation and boost your skin’s defenses -- protect it from the sun, for example. But stay away from anything called a “synthetic derivative,” because these may not work as well. And taking it by mouth doesn’t do as much for skin. If you do take the pill, it helps to take it along with vitamin C.

It’s good for your skin, hair, and nails, so it’s been studied as a way to prevent scars. It makes sense that it would help with this, but there’s not enough evidence to prove it. And some doctors warn against it because it can trigger an allergic reaction.

You may have heard that it can treat or prevent any number of problems from heart disease and cancer to Alzheimer’s. But studies say that’s not so. For now, count on it for good skin, hair, and nails. If it turns out that it helps anything else, that’ll be a bonus.

If you’re taking any medication, talk to your doctor before you take a vitamin E supplement. This is especially important if you’re undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy or if you take a blood thinner.