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The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is the average daily dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97-98%) healthy individuals in each life-stage and gender group. The 2000 RDAs for vitamin E for adults, in milligrams (mg) and International Units
(IUs) are:
| Life-Stage |
Men and Women |
Pregnancy |
Lactation |
| Ages 19+ |
15 mg* or 22 IU |
|
|
| All ages |
|
15 mg* or 22 IU |
19 mg* or 28 IU |
|
*1 mg alpha-tocopherol equivalents = 1.5 IU |
The RDA for vitamin E is based on the alpha-tocopherol form because it is the most active, or usable, form. Unlike other vitamins, the form of alpha-tocopherol made in the laboratory and found in supplements is not identical to the natural form, and is not quite as active as the natural
form.
Results of two national surveys, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes of Individuals indicated that the dietary intake of most Americans does not provide the recommended intake for vitamin E. However, a Institute of Medicine (IOM) report on vitamin E states that intake estimates of vitamin E may be low because energy and fat intake is often underreported in national surveys and because the kind and amount of fat added during cooking is often not known.
The IOM states that most North American adults get enough vitamin E from their normal diets to meet current recommendations. However, they do caution individuals who consume low fat diets because vegetable oils are such a good dietary source of vitamin E. "Low-fat diets can substantially decrease vitamin E intakes if food choices are not carefully made to enhance alpha-tocopherol intakes".
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