All About Antioxidants and Vitamins -

Over Dosage Of Vitamin E

Vitamin E is generally regarded as being a fairly innocuous substance and few if any warnings are heard of the dangers of over dosage. For adults, this is probably reasonable, but there are undoubtedly limits to the amounts that can be safely taken. Cases have occurred in which dangers have arisen from over dosage of vitamin E in premature babies from probable interference with the action of cells of the immune system against infection.
Since free radical oxidant action is a necessary part of the body’s functioning, both for the destruction of bacteria and for other important purposes, it is only reasonable to suppose that undue interference with it, by excessive dosage of an antioxidant like vitamin E, is likely to be harmful. To do so may be, for instance, to increase the risk of infection. There is no substance of major medical benefit that does not also carry the risk of undesirable side effects. This is a fact of medical life that should never be forgotten.

Like many other substances, vitamin E is necessary for life and health. But, like many other substances, the amount in the body must, for safety, be kept within fairly strict limits.