The main form of vitamin E is alpha-tocopherol. Tocopherols were discovered in 1922 and were found to be essential to maintaining fertility. Since then, four tocopherol’s have been found, and are designated by the first four letters of the Greek alphabet: alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. Of these, alpha-tocopherol is the one which our DRI intake recommendations are based upon.

Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant in cell membranes and is especially important for the integrity of cells that are constantly exposed to high oxygen concentrations, namely, the lungs and blood cells, both red and white. Vitamin E deficiency is rare in humans, but it does occur in newborn premature infants. The vitamin is widely distributed in plant foods; it is destroyed by high heat; toxicity is rare.

Your Vitamin E Intake

Your Top Vitamin E Sources

Below are the major contributors of Vitamin E to your diet. This list is based upon the foods you eat the most, not the amount of Vitamin E per serving (which is shown for reference purposes only).