The major problem in making recommendations for vitamin E is the dependence on the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake. Across Europe there are wide variations in PUFA consumption. Based on the strong relation between vitamin E requirements and PUFA, recommendations have to take into account the different intake of PUFAs in different population groups. Therefore the recommended intakes are given as the ratio milligram alpha-tocopherol equivalents (mg alpha-TE): 0.4 mg x g dietary PUFA (60).
However, the old unit for biological activity of vitamin E, ‘International Units’ (IU), is used sometimes (1.00 mg alpha-TE equals 1.49 I.U.).
In view of the difficulty in recommending the amount of vitamin E with the optimal effects on human metabolism, the recommendations for daily vitamin E intake for adults, expressed as milligram alpha-tocopherol equivalents (mg alpha-TE), differ in European countries:
| Country | Males: mg/day | Females: mg/day |
| Belgium (2000) | 10 | 10 |
| France (2001) | 12 | 12 |
| DACH* (2000) | 15 | 12 |
| Italy (1996) | > 8 | > 8 |
| Netherlands (2000) | 11.8 | 9.3 |
| Nordic countries (1996) | 10 | 8 |
| Spain (1994-98) | 12 | 12 |
| U.K. (1991) | > 4 | > 3 |
* Germany, Austria and Switzerland
Based on the prevention of deficiency symptoms ─ rather than on health promotion and prevention of chronic disease ─ the U.S. Food and Nutrition Board has set recommended dietary allowance (RDA) values for vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) (2).
In the RDA, revised upward in 2'000, amounts of alpha-tocopherol are expressed in international units (IU) and milligrams (mg) of ‘RRR-alpha-tocopherol’ (also referred to as ’natural‘ or d-alpha-tocopherol); the form of vitamin E found in foods.
| Life Stage | Age | Males: mg/day (IU/day) | Females: mg/day (IU/day) |
| Infants (AI) | 0–6 months | 4 mg (6 IU) | 4 mg (6 IU) |
| Infants (AI) | 7–12 months | 5 mg (7.5 IU) | 5 mg (7.5 IU) |
| Children | 1–3 years | 6 mg (9 IU) | 6 mg (9 IU) |
| Children | 4–8 years | 7 mg (10.5 IU) | 7 mg (10.5 IU) |
| Children | 9–13 years | 11 mg (16.5 IU) | 11 mg (16.5 IU) |
| Adolescents | 14–18 years | 15 mg (22.5 IU) | 15 mg (22.5 IU) |
| Adults | 19 years and older | 15 mg (22.5 IU) | 15 mg (22.5 IU) |
| Pregnancy | all ages | - | 15 mg (22.5 IU) |
| Breast-feeding | all ages | - | 19 mg (28.5 IU) |
Some scientists think that there exists credible evidence that taking 200 IU (134 mg) alpha-tocopherol daily may help protect adults from chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, and some types of cancer. The amount of alpha-tocopherol required for such beneficial effects appears to be much greater than that which could be achieved through diet alone (61).
For a detailed overview of recommended daily intakes (PRIs/RDAs) of vitamins and minerals for adults derived from different countries and organizations see PDF.