Hi-

I have been taking 1000mg of Vitamin E for many months now. One thing I noticed was how wonderfully my nails and hair were growing as a "bonus" to taking this vitamin. The past few weeks, despite continuing to take the E, my nails have broken, become brittle, pretty much the way they were before I took the E. Can anyone give me some feedback as to why that might be happening? It is very frustrating for me.

Thanks!
~Michelle

hi Michelle,

1000 mg of vitamin E is a really high dose, especially to be taking it for a prolonged period of time. For general health, 100 to 200 mg per day is recommended. For therapeutic use, such as preventive heart and blood vessel health and blood sugar stabilising, 400 to 800 mg per day is what's recommended. Doses over 800 mg per day should be taken with caution, or under the supervision of a health care provider. Doses above 800mg per day for prolonged periods can cause blood-thinning and bleeding problems.

I couldn't see anywhere that excessive vitamin E caused dry brittle nails, so I doubt that's the problem. Biotin is often helpful for dry brittle nails, hair and skin problems, so you might give that a try. 50 to 300 mcg per day.

How do you use your hands? Are they in water a lot, or you have to wash them often? This can dry out the nails. Also, some types of nail polish and remover can be very drying. A simple hand cream .. especially one with keratin protein in it .. can help solve the problem. Make sure you massage it well into the nails.

Here's some helpful info from MotherNature.com about Brittle Nails.

hth,

Doreen

I never heard of anyone taking that high a dosage before, hopefully you checked with your doctor first. I have been taking 400mg for 15 years. You can advance to 800 after 50, but I've never heard of 1000mg...Be Careful

I wouln't think the vitamin E has anything to do with it. Like you said it helps. I take a 1000 ui's of E everyday along with a super B complex and a multi vitamin (with anti toxins). Atkins says not to take less then 800ui's a day of E, more will not hurt. he says it's hard to tell what your body needs depending on your age, stress, body type and past history. Any amount OVER what your body needs will simply be flushed out of your body. But do not increase vitamin A or D for these can be toxic. Try to drink plenty of water as well. Good Luck

Over 10 years ago, researchers discovered that doses around 200/day helped prevent heart attack, so many people thought more was better. But, recent research has shown an INCREASED risk of heart problems with megadoses of vitamin E. Best to stay at the 400 level or lower.

Boy o boy! LOL...talk about conflicting responses! Looks like there is research confirming whatever it is you want to take! I have no idea where to go from here.
~Michelle

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and will be retained and can become toxic.

From Merck Manual (http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/s...chapter3/3g.htm):


From Body and fitness (bodyhttp://www.bodyandfitness.com/Information/Health/Research/vitamins.htm#fat-soluble):


Some are more dangerous than others. But any of the fat-soluble vitamins should be taken with caution. Water soluble are the ones you can take as much as you want of. Those are excreted in urine and pretty much flush out if there's too much taken in.

Thank you Cindy-
I thought Vitamin E was fat soluble. Thank you for researching it for me. I am almost done with this bottle of E. I will try 400 this next time around. I have been taking 1000 since July, maybe it is starting to get to me. Still don't know what to do about my nails!! LOL...I kept saying it was the E that was helping me.
~Michelle

Summeryet,
It might be the weather that's affecting your nails right now. Winter is particularly hard because of the cold, and dryness if your house is not adequately humidified.

I take vitamin E as well and had gorgeous nails over the summer. They have started to crack and split, and my cuticles get very dried out. A good hand lotion might do the trick. One thing I've noticed since taking the viatmin E is that my mails grow faster than weeds. So if they do break this time of year, they grow back in pretty fast.

Thank you Angela!
I am going to invest in a good lotion after the holidays. Hopefully it helps!
~Michelle

"The most significant toxic effect of vitamin E at > 1000 mg/day is antagonism to vitamin K action..."

This may explain something else for me!!! I just went OFF of megadoses of vitamin E because of the doctor's warning about it. I've been off for about 2 weeks and have been taking lower (400 or less) doses.

In another thread, I asked about the veins breaking in my hands and elsewhere. Another poster suggested it might be a vitamin K deficiency! Well, here's another reason to think I might have that problem. Thank you!

I wanted to thank everyone for their advice. I have switched to 400mg per day, I will see if there are any differences.
Thanks again!
Michelle