Should I take vitamin E?

Andrew Huberman warns that high-dose vitamin E and vitamin A supplementation worsened outcomes in people with lung cancer. Rhonda Patrick states that supplemental vitamin E or N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can allow tumors to grow faster by sequestering reactive oxygen species. Rhonda Patrick also notes that high-dose alpha-tocopherol supplementation in men with low selenium levels was associated with an increased incidence of prostate cancer. Rhonda Patrick, along with Peter Attia, indicates that supplemental antioxidants, particularly vitamin E, may accelerate cancer growth in individuals who already have cancer. Peter Attia highlights that vitamin E has potential downsides including increased cardiovascular risk, prostate cancer, and increased all-cause mortality in cirrhosis patients. Peter Attia also states that dietary antioxidants like vitamin E and vitamin C have not demonstrated benefit for human health or disease. Rhonda Patrick and Peter Attia agree that taking mega-doses of the alpha-tocopherol form of vitamin E is not beneficial and can be detrimental. Rhonda Patrick cautions that over-nutrition with biologically active compounds at levels not seen in nature, such as with vitamin E and D, can have negative consequences. Rhonda Patrick also states that supplementing with vitamin E alpha-tocopherol above the Recommended Dietary Allowance is generally not necessary. David Sinclair claims that Vitamin E and C have no immediate or long-term effects on cancer. Paul Saladino suggests that supplementation with only alpha-tocopherol vitamin E can be counterproductive and pro-oxidant if it creates an imbalance with other tocopherol forms. Paul Saladino also warns that high doses of synthetic antioxidants like vitamin E can be detrimental because the body requires a homeostatic balance between oxidation and reduction. Andrew Huberman notes that high-dose alpha-tocopherol (400 IUs or more) can lower gamma-tocopherol and may increase PSA levels. Paul Saladino states that getting Vitamin E from canola oil or seed oils is unnecessary. Peter Attia mentions that prior to 2015, treatments for Peyronie's disease were off-label, with vitamin E and colchicine being ineffective. Peter Attia also states that antioxidants like vitamin E may be harmful to cancer patients, as evidenced by worse outcomes in a lung cancer trial and recapitulation in mice.

The verdict would change if new evidence emerged consistently demonstrating clear, widespread benefits of high-dose vitamin E supplementation across diverse populations without significant adverse effects, or if further research definitively disproved the current concerns regarding cancer acceleration and other negative health outcomes associated with supplementation.