Should men take vitamin E?

Question

My boyfriend (32 years old) has been taking 1000 IUs of vitamin E daily for a year now, ever since a doctor told him that he should take it to prevent prostate cancer. Well today I heard that there is new evidence that says it is not beneficial for men to take vitamin E. Does anybody know the latest on this? Thanks!

Answer 1

Vitamin E is a great suppliment for your boyfriend to be taking. It is a powerful antioxidant that contrubutes to cardiovascular, mental, and prostate health as well as enhance the immune system. It is great for the heart and circulation. So even if they do prove that it doesn't help the prostate (which I believe it does) it is very good for his heart. And we all know that good circulation leads to a good erection!

Answer 2

It was once thought that vitamin E was helpful in treatment for heart disease. Now studies show not only that it has no helpful properties that it could increase mortality up to 20% @ doses of 2000 IU per day. The average adult needs 10-30 IU of vitamin E a day. If you are trying to reduce cholesterol try oatmeal!!!

Answer 3

Medical articles come out all the time. For years we've been told that taking Vit E, Q10, and selenium will help prevent prostate cancer. Lycopene is new to the added list of cancer fighting agents. There are other things too that medical evidence suggest Saw P. etc... Past medical evidence supporting the anticancer effectiveness for taking these agents is strong. One can consider that taking these 4 agents will provide a stronger synergistic effect. Personally, I take these medications, they really have no negative side effects and they help prevent damage from free radicals in the body, including testicles. If you want a healthy prostate and testicles, this stuff could only help.

Answer 4

What foods provide vitamin E?
Vegetable oils, nuts, and green leafy vegetables are the main dietary sources of vitamin E. Fortified cereals are also an important source of vitamin E in the United States. The table of selected food sources of vitamin E suggests foods that contain vitamin E (4).
What is the health risk of too much vitamin E?
The health risk of too much vitamin E is low (23). A recent review of the safety of vitamin E in the elderly indicated that taking vitamin E supplements for up to four months at doses of 530 mg or 800 IU (35 times the current RDA) had no significant effect on general health, body weight, levels of body proteins, lipid levels, liver or kidney function, thyroid hormones, amount or kinds of blood cells, and bleeding time (24). Even though this study provides evidence that taking a vitamin E supplement containing 530 mg or 800 IU for four months is safe, the long term safety of vitamin E supplementation has not been tested. The Institute of Medicine has set an upper tolerable intake level for vitamin E at 1,000 mg (1,500 IU) for any form of supplementary alpha-tocopherol per day because the nutrient can act as an anticoagulant and increase the risk of bleeding problems. Upper tolerable intake levels "represent the maximum intake of a nutrient that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects in almost all individuals in the general population" (5).


Food International Units %DV*


Wheat germ oil, 1 Tb


26.2


90

Almonds, dry roasted, 1 oz
7.5
25

Safflower oil, 1 TB
4.7
15

Corn oil, 1 TB
2.9
10

Soybean oil, 1 TB
2.5
8

Turnip greens, frozen, boiled, 1/2 c
2.4
8

Mango, raw, without refuse,1 fruit
2.3
8

Peanuts, dry roasted, 1 oz
2.1
8

Mixed nuts w/ peanuts, oil roasted, 1 oz
1.7
6

Mayonnaise, made w/ soybean oil, 1 TB
1.6
6

Broccoli, frozen, chopped, boiled, 1/2 c
1.5
6

Dandelion greens, boiled, 1/2 c
1.3
4

Pistachio nuts, dry roasted, 1 oz
1.2
4

Spinach, frozen, boiled, 1/2 c
0.85
2

Kiwi, 1 medium fruit 0.85 2
* DV = Daily Value. DVs are reference numbers based on the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). They were developed to help consumers determine if a food contains a lot or a little of a specific nutrient. The DV for vitamin E is 30 International Units (or 20 mg). The percent DV (%DV) listed on the nutrition facts panel of food labels tells adults what percentage of the DV is provided by one serving. Percent DVs are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. Foods that provide lower percentages of the DV will contribute to a healthful diet.

Answer 5

well vitamin e is beneficial for other stuff, like your hair

Answer 6

Vitamin E thickens the sperm

Answer 7

Yes. It's good for the heart. Take it with good fats.