Vitamins, minerals and supplements
Vitamin E
Vitamin E has several important functions. For example, it acts as an antioxidant,which protects cell membranes.
This helps tomaintain healthy skin, eyes and strengthens the immune system.
Good sources of vitamin E
Vitamin E is found in a wide variety of foods. The richest sources are plant oils, such as soya, corn and olive oil.
Other good sources include:
- nuts and seeds
- wheat germ found in cereals and cereal products
How much vitamin E do I need?
The amount of vitamin E you need is:
- 4mg a day for men
- 3mg a day for women
You should be able to get all the vitamin E you need from your daily diet.
Any vitamin E your body doesn't need immediately is stored for future use, so you don't need it in your diet every day.
What happens if I take too much vitamin E?
There isn't enough evidence to know what the effects might be of taking high doses of vitamin E supplements each day.
Whatdoes theDepartment of Health advise?
You should be able to get the amount of vitamin E you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take vitamin E supplements, don'ttake too much.
Taking 540mg or less a day of vitamin E supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 26 Feb 2015
Introduction
Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients that your body needs in small amounts to work properly.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is also known as retinol and it has several important functions.
The B vitamins
There are many different types of vitamin B and they all have important functions.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid and has several important functions.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D has several important functions. For example, it helps to regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E has several important functions. For example, it acts as an antioxidant, which protects cell membranes.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K has several important functions. For example, it is needed for blood clotting, which means it helps wounds to heal properly.
Calcium
There is more calcium in the body than any other mineral, and it has several important functions.
Iodine
Iodine helps to make the thyroid hormones. These hormones help to keep cells and the metabolic rate healthy.
Iron
Iron is an essential mineral that has several important roles in the body.
Other vitamins and minerals
As well as vitamins and more common minerals such as calcium, iodine and iron a healthy diet includes many other substances.
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