Vitamin E
US Daily Value for adults: 15 mg · unit on labels: mg
US labels declare vitamin E in mg of alpha-tocopherol: 1 mg on the label = 1 mg natural RRR-alpha-tocopherol = 2 mg synthetic all-rac-alpha-tocopherol (21 CFR 101.9). International Units depend on the form: 1 IU of the natural form = 0.67 mg and 1 IU of the synthetic form = 0.45 mg alpha-tocopherol (NIH ODS), so 15 mg is 22.4 IU natural or 33.3 IU synthetic. China publishes its values in mg α-TE (alpha-tocopherol equivalents), a different basis from the FDA unit.
Reference intakes
| Value | United States | China | European Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Label reference valueBasis of the % on labels, fixed by each regulation; not a recommended intake | 15 mgDV · Adults and children 4+1 | 14 mg α-TENRV3 | 12 mgNRV5 |
| Recommended intake, adults | 15 mgRDA · Adults 19+2 | 14 mg α-TEAI · Adults 18+4 | 13 mg (men), 11 mg (women)AI6 |
| Upper intake level | 1,000 mg (supplemental alpha-tocopherol)UL · Adults 19+2 | 700 mg α-TEUL · Adults 18+4 | 300 mgUL7 |
- FDA, 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv), Daily Values for adults and children 4 years and older
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Vitamin E fact sheet for health professionals (2021)
- GB 28050-2011 General rules for nutrition labelling of prepackaged foods, Appendix A nutrient reference values (NRV); value unchanged in GB 28050-2025, Appendix A (published 16 March 2025, in force 16 March 2027) (2025)
- Chinese Nutrition Society, Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs 2023) (2023)
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex XIII Part A, nutrient reference values (consolidated text) (2011)
- EFSA NDA Panel, Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for vitamin E (2015)
- EFSA NDA Panel, Scientific opinion on the tolerable upper intake level for vitamin E (2024)
Label values (DV, NRV) are the reference points behind the percentages on labels. Recommended intakes and upper levels are quoted from the bodies named; they vary by age, sex and life stage, and they are not advice.