Does taking vitamin E have any proven benefit?

Vitamin E supplements simply do not work for the most feared diseases. Nine large studies involving more than 107,000 participants show that they do nothing against cardiovascular disease, cancer, or premature death. All outcomes were statistically non-significant. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force formally advises against them on this basis, with moderate certainty that there is no net benefit whatsoever.

There is also a safety signal that cannot be ignored. That same large analysis¹ suggests that vitamin E may increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. The precise magnitude has not been quantified, but the signal is serious enough to give pause, especially if you are also taking blood thinners.

For Alzheimer's disease, one small study was found that observed positive effects on behavior and daily functioning. However, participants received a combination product containing carotenoids, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin E all at once. It is therefore impossible to say which component was responsible. This is not evidence that vitamin E on its own helps with Alzheimer's disease.

A deficiency of vitamin E during pregnancy is associated with poorer brain development in the child. This says something about the importance of adequate intake through diet, but it is not an argument for taking extra supplements if you are already getting enough. It also concerns an association, not a cause-and-effect relationship.

For the skin, there are modest indications, from a narrative review of the literature, that vitamin E may help with conditions such as eczema and UV protection. However, the quality of evidence is limited, there is no clear dosage, and hard numbers are lacking. For a hereditary kidney disease (ADPKD) the same applies: clinical benefit is uncertain and supplementation is not recommended.