Vitamin E Deficiency

Vitamin E deficiency means your body doesn’t have enough vitamin E. If you’re deficient in vitamin E, your body isn’t getting and absorbing the amount it needs.

In the U.S., vitamin E deficiency is rare. People usually get all the vitamin E they need through the foods they eat. When the condition does occur, it’s most likely due to a disorder that affects your body’s ability to absorb fat. Your body needs a certain amount of fat to properly digest vitamin E.

By eating enough foods that contain vitamin E, you can usually avoid the condition. Your healthcare provider may also recommend that you take a supplement. But see your provider before starting any new dietary supplements.

What happens when your vitamin E is low?

Vitamin E is an antioxidant. That means it protects your cells from free radicals. Free radicals are chemical reactions that can damage your cells. Your body needs plenty of vitamin E to fight free radicals.

If you lack vitamin E, your immune system may have trouble protecting you against illnesses and infections. Vitamin E is also important because it:

• Supports healthy skin
• Promotes good vision
• Prevents blood clots
• Reduces inflammation

Vitamin E deficiency symptoms

Vitamin E deficiency symptoms mostly affect your nervous system. These may include muscle weakness, vision issues and problems controlling your body movements. Other symptoms include numbness and fatigue. Severe cases can lead to blindness.

Other symptoms of vitamin E deficiency can include:

• Bleeding within the brain
• Abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eyes
• A blood disorder called hemolytic anemia
• Slow reflexes
• Trouble walking
• Weakened immune system

What causes vitamin E deficiency disease?

Fat absorption disorders and certain genetic disorders usually cause vitamin E deficiency. Less commonly, low vitamin E intake causes the condition. Vitamin E is found in many foods. So people who are healthy rarely have the deficiency.

Fat absorption disorders

In countries with low rates of food insecurity, deficiency of vitamin E is uncommon. If you do have vitamin E deficiency, it’s often due to a disorder that prevents your body from absorbing fat. These diseases include:

• Liver disease
• Pancreatitis
• Cystic fibrosis
• Crohn’s disease
• Celiac disease

Certain rare genetic diseases can also lead to the condition. These include abetalipoproteinemia and ataxia with vitamin E deficiency.

Low vitamin E intake

In countries with high rates of food insecurity, the most common cause of vitamin E deficiency is a lack of vitamin E in the foods you eat. A very low-fat diet doesn’t contain a lot of vitamin E. And your body needs some fat to digest and absorb it.

Who is most at risk?

Newborns — particularly premature infants — have a higher risk of being deficient in vitamin E. That’s because very little vitamin E crosses the placenta during fetal development. So, when they’re born, they don’t have a lot of the vitamin stocked up. With age, their risk goes down. Babies can usually get the vitamin E they need through breast milk or formula.

Your risk of developing vitamin E deficiency goes up if you don’t eat foods with any fat in them. Your body needs fat to digest and absorb certain vitamins.

How doctors diagnose vitamin E deficiency

Your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms. They’ll also ask about your medical history, including any diseases that increase your risk of a deficiency of vitamin E.

Your provider may also request blood tests, including a vitamin E test. This test measures how much vitamin E is in your blood.

How is vitamin E deficiency treated?

If you have a lack of vitamin E, your healthcare provider may recommend vitamin E supplements. These dietary supplements come in many different forms. They also have different doses.

Be sure to ask your provider before adding a vitamin E supplement to your daily routine. They may tell you that taking a once-daily multivitamin will cover your vitamin E needs. Supplements that contain vitamin E alone usually have much more than you need.

If you have a fat absorption disorder, your provider will focus on treating that, as well.

To prevent any potential disorders from forming, premature babies may receive supplements, too. But full-term babies don’t need them. They should get enough vitamin E through breast milk or formula.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

You should make an appointment with your healthcare provider if you:

• Have any symptoms of vitamin E deficiency, like muscle weakness or numbness
• Follow a low-fat eating plan
• Know you have a fat absorption disorder

You should see your provider often to reduce your risk of developing a deficiency of vitamin E.

What is the outlook (prognosis)?

With treatment, your outlook (prognosis) is very good. You should see your symptoms go away quickly.

Without treatment, the symptoms of vitamin E deficiency are very hard to reverse. They’ll continue to worsen, affecting your quality of life.

So, if you have a fat absorption disorder, you should see your healthcare provider regularly. They’ll test you to see if you’re deficient in vitamin E. If you are, you can begin treatment right away.

Can vitamin E deficiency be prevented?

You can prevent vitamin E deficiency by eating a variety of foods that contain the nutrient. It can be found naturally in many foods. And some foods are fortified with it. You can read nutrition labels to find out which foods contain vitamin E.

If you know you have a fat absorption disorder, talk to your healthcare provider. They’ll provide treatment or recommend a vitamin E supplement.

You can ensure your newborn doesn’t develop the condition by breastfeeding for at least six months.