A vitamin E test determines how much vitamin E is in your blood. Vitamin E (also known as tocopherol or alpha-tocopherol) is a substance found in all of your body's cells. It improves the function of your nerves and muscles, avoids blood clots, and strengthens your immune system to fight off bacterial diseases.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant, which protects cells from harm. However, having too little or too much vitamin E in your body can lead to major health concerns.
Most people obtain enough vitamin E through foods including vegetable oils, almonds, seeds, avocados, and green, leafy vegetables. Certain cereals, fruit juices, and margarine are also fortified with vitamin E. The quantity of vitamin E obtained through meals does not result in high levels.
High levels are frequently caused by taking an excessive amount of vitamin E tablets. Low levels are frequently caused by digestive problems, such as malabsorption disorders, which make fat digestion difficult for your body. To absorb vitamin E, your body needs fat.
Other names: tocopherol test, alpha-tocopherol test, vitamin E, serum
What is the use of the Vitamin E Test?
A vitamin E test can be used to determine the following:
- Examine your vitamin E absorption, especially if you have a disease that affects how your body absorbs vitamin E.
- Premature newborns should have their vitamin E levels checked. Infants born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are frequently deficient in vitamin E and may develop major health issues if not addressed.
- Check to see whether you're receiving too much vitamin E, especially if you've been taking vitamin E supplements.
What is the purpose of a vitamin E test?
If you have symptoms of vitamin E deficiency (low levels of vitamin E) or vitamin E excess, you should have a vitamin E test (high levels of vitamin E).
Symptoms of a vitamin E deficiency often involve damage to the nerves and muscles. They are:
- Muscle weakness
- Lost sense of feeling in your arms and legs
- Problems walking and controlling your body movements
- Vision problems
Vitamin E deficiency is extremely rare in healthy persons. It is usually caused by factors that hinder your body from adequately absorbing vitamin E, such as:
- Crohn's disease
- Liver disease
- Cystic fibrosis
- Celiac disease
- Pancreatitis
- Certain genetic disorders, including ataxia with vitamin E deficiency and abetalipoproteinemia (very uncommon)
- Eating an extremely low-fat diet can also lead to a vitamin E deficiency.
Symptoms of too much vitamin E include:
Excess vitamin E is also unusual. It generally occurs as a result of taking too many vitamin E tablets. Too much vitamin E, if not treated, might raise your risk of bleeding, including bleeding in the brain, known as a hemorrhagic stroke.
What happens during a vitamin E test?
A healthcare professional will use a small needle to take blood from a vein in your arm. Following needle insertion, a small amount of blood will be collected as a sample in a test tube or vial. When the needle goes in or out, you may feel a slight sting. This usually takes about five minutes.
How to prepare for the test?
Before the test, one should probably fast (not eat or drink anything) for 12-14 hours and take this test on an empty stomach.
Is there any risk associated with the test?
Having a blood test poses relatively little danger. You may experience discomfort or bruising where the needle was inserted, but most symptoms will go soon.
What do the findings imply?
Vitamin E levels in adults change with age. Your test results should indicate whether or not your findings are normal for your age.
Low vitamin E levels indicate that you are not absorbing or receiving enough vitamin E. To determine the reason, your physician will look at your medical history and additional testing results. Vitamin E deficiency is generally treated by taking vitamin supplements and addressing any disorders that may be preventing absorption.
High vitamin E levels indicate that you are consuming an excessive amount of vitamin E. If you have been taking vitamin E supplements, you must discontinue them. If vitamin E has created bleeding difficulties, your provider may additionally prescribe medications to treat you.
Important information to know about a vitamin E test?
Some people feel that vitamin E supplements can aid in the prevention of certain diseases.
Taking vitamin E supplements may interfere with the effectiveness of some medications, including blood thinners and cancer treatments. It may also impact your body's capacity to utilize other vitamins. So, before taking any dietary supplements, always consult with your healthcare professional to ensure that they are safe for you.
