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The Current Most Justified Dose of Vitamin E is 200 IU per day (lowered from 400iu in Jan, 2011)

Jan, 2011 - A study in J. Nutr this month shows that vitamin C lowers stroke risk, but vitamin E at high levels increases risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Given the benefits of vitamin E as an antioxidant, and the uncertainty between the value of 200 vs 400 IU daily, I now opt for the lower dosage. See article 6 at this link.

June, 2006 - At the Linus Pauling meetings in 2006, it was reported how vitamin E maintains the ability of the immune system to function effectively as we age. Prof. Marko reported on how Vitamin E reverses the age-related decline in the immune system.
LAT is a key messenger signaling protein that is transported to the cell nucleus causing T-cell proliferation. T-cells regulate B-cells, which produce antibodies. Both T and B-cells produce memory cells in response to the flu vaccine. Those memory cells allow us to fight off active flu infection when we are exposed to the active virus.  The process occurs as expected in young people so they respond to vaccination better.  In elderly, 60% do not respond to vaccination due to LAT dysfunction.  200 IU of vitamin E daily completely restores LAT phosphorylation so the vaccination works. Flu vaccine in elderly often leads to pneumonia. Flu and pneumonia can lead to hospitalization, disability, and death at much higher rates in the elderly. This could be substantially avoided if everyone took vitamin E supplements. No hazard has been reported with vitamin E supplementation at levels of 400 IU per day.

In fact, taking 400 IU per day is very beneficial, for instance, decreasing ALS by 62%. Click here to read about the two main studies comparing different doses of vitamin E. They show a dose-response relationship between measurable endpoints for health that indicate a level between 200 and 400IU per day is optimal. Doses above 400 or below 200 are less beneficial. 400 IU tablets are less expensive and more widely tested in clinical trials. As described elsewhere, vitamin E is especially important to prevent the accumulation of plaque in arteries that can cause heart disease, stroke, failing memory and other brain deterioration diseases.

Sadly, the media exploit our interest in vitamin E. A story in 2005 appeared in newspapers indicating that vitamin E might be harmful, just as stories appear periodically that vitamin C might be hazardous. The essence of the statement below is that the January 2005 report was flawed, and the data used in that report undermine the assertion that vitamin E is hazardous.

Taken from the Spring/Summer 2005 Oregon State Univ. Linus Pauling Institute Research Report - Recent Research on Vitamins C and E, S. Lawson - " High-dose vitamin E and mortality - In January, 2005, a meta-analysis of clinical studies...was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine...The authors reported that the use of 400 IU/day or more of vitamin E alone...was associated with slightly increased risk of mortality...[data used for meta-analysis] undermine the assertion in [this] meta-analysis...The tolerable upper intake level for vitamin E has been set at 1,500 IU/day due to the possibility that higher doses may interfere with normal blood clotting...the U.S. Institute of Medicine...concluded that vitamin E is safe when taken in amounts less than the upper intake level... The long-term use of vitamin E supplements [typically 400 IU] decreased the risk of dying from ALS [amylotrophic lateral sclerosis] by 62%... Archives of Neurology in 2004 reported that the combined use of vitamin E and vitamin C - but neither vitamin alone - protects against Alzheimer's disease...Alpha-tocopherol is maintained in human plasma longer and at higher levels than gamma-tocopherol, but gamma-tocopherol, the main form of dietary vitamin E in the United States, may be present long enough for biological effects yet to be elucidated."