Vitamin E (tocopherol) is an important antioxidant, helping to protect cells and support the immune system. The recommended requirement for adults is only about 15 mg/day and can be fully met through foods such as nuts, nuts, vegetable oils, green leafy vegetables. However, in reality, many people are accidentally taking vitamin E far beyond their needs through functional foods, leading to a series of potential risks.
Risk of bleeding, stroke and heart failure
According to Karina Tolentino, nutritionist and health consultant at Cleveland Clinic (USA), high doses of vitamin E can interfere with the body's natural blood clotting process. Vitamin E reduces the activity of vitamin K, a key factor in blood clotting. This increases the risk of prolonged bleeding, even internal bleeding, she warned.
Studies show that supplementing over 1,000 mg of vitamin E per day can increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, a dangerous medical emergency condition. Warning signs include sudden severe headaches, confusion, hemiplegia, difficulty speaking or loss of balance.
Not stopping there, high doses of vitamin E are also associated with the risk of heart failure, especially in people with pre-existing cardiovascular disease. Some studies have recorded a significantly increased risk of heart failure in people who have had myocardial infarctions when taking vitamin E for a long time. In high doses, antioxidants sometimes have no protective function but can have the opposite effect on the heart, Tolentino said.
Increased risk of cancer and immune disorders
Another less mentioned risk is the risk of prostate cancer. Large-scale research in the US shows that healthy men who take 400 IU of vitamin E per day for a long time have a higher risk of prostate cancer than those without supplements.
According to experts, "bottling" too many antioxidants can disrupt the body's natural mechanism to remove damaged cells, creating conditions for abnormal cell growth.
In addition, a very high dose of vitamin E can also weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to infection and recover more slowly after the disease. Interfering with the absorption of other oil-soluble vitamins such as A, D, K can also lead to bone health decline, increasing the risk of fractures in the long term.
Experts emphasize that the majority of adults do not need to supplement vitamin E individually. Many tablets today contain up to 180 - 268 mg (400 IU), many times higher than the body's needs. Dont mistake vitamins for absolute safety. Before long-term use, read the label carefully and consult a doctor, Karina Tolentino recommends.
