Should Toronto IV therapy patients consider vitamin E for their optimal health goals? Well, it doesn’t hurt; after all, vitamin E helps prevent cellular damage!

Vitamin E is actually not one single vitamin; it’s a cluster of compounds. These compounds are fat-soluble with ample amounts of antioxidants. Vitamin E assists the human body by promoting immune function, metabolism, gene regulation and cellular function.

Causes of a vitamin E deficiency in North America are rare, but “marginal intake of vitamin E is relatively common,” claims Oregon State University. A vitamin E deficiency or minimal intake can happen due to:

• Genetics: abetalipoproteinemia and ataxia with vitamin E deficiency (AVED) are two inherited conditions that pass vitamin E deficiency in family genes.
• Certain medical conditions: some medical conditions cause patients to have issues with nutrient absorption. Conditions that can cause a vitamin E deficiency include: cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, pancreatitis (chronic), and liver disease.

So what happens when you lack vitamin E? Read on to learn what happens with a vitamin E deficiency and how to treat it with oral vitamins, beneficial ingredients for your diet and IV vitamin drip therapy.

Vitamin E Deficiency Symptoms and Beneficial Effects

Vitamin E has positive effects on the human body. But according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), “healthy people rarely show any clear signs that they are not getting enough vitamin E.” When left untreated, vitamin E deficiency symptoms include: weakened immune function, fragile muscles, vision issues, and damage to the nerves and muscles.

Vitamin E treatments have demonstrated some beneficial effects, such as these:

• Aids in detoxification by reducing oxidative stress: According to the Korean Journal of Internal Medicine, in one study, bodily antioxidant levels increased with vitamin E supplementation; this directly caused oxidative stress biomarkers to lessen.
• Encourages the prevention or treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts: Studies have shown that people with increased vitamin E intake reduced their chances of forming AMD.
• Helps with preventing or delaying cardiovascular disease: Many studies have linked “…lower rates of heart disease with higher vitamin E intakes,” states the NIH. The NIH goes on to state that in one study with nurses, “the incidence of heart disease was 30% to 40% lower in those with the highest intakes of vitamin E, primarily from supplements.”

Treating a Toronto Vitamin E Deficiency

Vitamin E is crucial for maintaining optimal health. In order to correct deficiencies, such as vitamin E, we suggest following some steps to receive the proper treatment.

First, functional-medicine practicing naturopathic doctors will tell you that lab tests can confirm the exact key vitamins that you’re missing. At the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC), for example, we use blood tests to measure your levels of essential vitamins.

Then, once your lab work is reviewed, our functional medicine naturopathic doctor goes over various vitamin-E treatments with you. See the chart below for popular treatments:

Type of Treatment	About this Treatment
Changes to daily diet	Consume vitamin E-rich foods, such as: blackberries, cooked broccoli, spinach, Swiss chard, dried apricots, almonds, hazelnuts, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, peanuts.
Oral vitamins	Consume vitamin E-rich foods, such as: blackberries, cooked broccoli, spinach, Swiss chard, dried apricots, almonds, hazelnuts, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, peanuts.
IV therapy (Intravenous therapy or vitamin drip treatments)	Also known as IV drip therapy, this treatment inserts an IV of therapeutic doses into the blood vessels. Then the infusion solution is immediately ready for nutrient absorption to occur without passing the digestive tract for filtration.

Do you think you need additional vitamin E? To ensure that these vitamin therapies are suitable for you, speak to your family doctor or naturopathic doctor. Note that vitamin E supplementation can interact with some medications, including anticoagulants, statins, and cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates.

Reach Us in Toronto for Vitamin Treatments

You’re welcome to visit us if you have any questions or concerns about vitamin E. At the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre, we’re welcoming new patients – including yourself!

Our health care team applies an integrative approach to patient care and functional medicine; the TFMC emphasizes naturopathy, allopathic (western) medicine, acupuncture, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Our integrative treatments are designed to boost energy and brain function. They’re appropriate for many conditions, such as: infertility, chronic fatigue syndrome, thyroid conditions, DNA repair, skin rejuvenation, athletic recovery, autoimmune disease, adrenal function, blood pressure support and mineral deficiencies.

The TFMC’s vitamin drip treatments consist of a wide mixture of vitamins: ascorbic acid (high-dose vitamin C), vitamin A, folic acid, additional B vitamins, Myers Cocktail, a medley of amino acids, and major minerals. Vitamin D intramuscular shots are also available at our clinic.

FYI: Prior to your first vitamin IV drip, an in-person or virtual consultation is necessary to rule out medication interactions and allergic reactions to the infusion solution. Functional medicine lab tests may be requested before IV therapy is administered.

Can vitamin E promote your optimal functioning? Call (416) 968-6961 to discuss customizing your IV therapy in Toronto with essential vitamins.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.

 

References:

Maret G Traber, Vitamin E, Advances in Nutrition, Volume 12, Issue 3, May 2021, Pages 1047–1048, https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmab019

Niki E. Evidence for beneficial effects of vitamin E. Korean J Intern Med. 2015;30(5):571-579. doi:10.3904/kjim.2015.30.5.571

“Micronutrient Facts” by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, reviewed June 28, 2021, viewed on December 3, 2021.

“Vitamin E” by the National Institutes of Health, updated March 22, 2021, viewed on December 22, 2021.

“Vitamin E” by Oregon State University, reviewed in October 2015 by: 
Maret G. Traber, Ph.D., Helen P. Rumbel Professor for Micronutrient Research, Linus Pauling Institute Professor, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University.