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Zippo Bilbrok 3.0e8 wrote: > Kathrynne, you might know the answer to a question I've been dying to ask for a long time. Vit. E is stored in the liver, as are D, A and K. How dangerous is it to take megadoses of this vitamin? > > Mary AnnMary Ann, I'll try. Vitamin E is a complex fat-soluble vitamin. It appears that it is not well absorbed, efficiency ranging from 20-80% depending on the study, and efficiency of absorption seems to drop with increasing dosage. It may well be that the small amounts ingested at meals are better absorbed than megadoses. Although the liver does have a high concentration of E, other high-fat tissues have even higher amounts. It does not appear to cause the toxicity seen with high doses of vitamin A. Neither deficiency nor toxicity of vitamin is ordinarily seen in humans. According to the 10th edition of the RDA "Most adults appear to tolerate oral doses of 100 to 800 mg/day...without gross signs or biochemical evidence of toxicity." However, there is some slight possibility that megadoses of E may increase risk for stroke. Though some experts still insist that supplements are unnecessary, I find that many of my clients do not get adequate E in their diets. While I encourage greater use of E-containing foods, I believe, as do most experts, that supplements of 100-200 mg/day are safe for most people. However, when other medical conditions are present, I always encourage my clients to speak with their physicians, to be sure that supplementation is indeed safe for their particular circumstances. Like most areas of nutrition, there is little definitive or absolute information available on need for vitamin E supplements. The only thing I'm ABSOLUTELY sure of is that it's best to get it in the diet! Hope this helps a bit--best regards, -- Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD Editor-in-Chief, "Spotlight on Food--nutrition news for people 60-plus" Tel: 970-493-6532 Fax: 970-493-6538 http://www.fortnet.org/~fivstar Contact Better Business Bureau of the Mountain States, < [log in to unmask]>