A Word About Vitamin E...

I decided to post on Vitamin E for several reasons, 1-to satisfy my curiosity and 2-to answer a question my Mother-in-Law had about Vitamin E.
The question: Why is vitamin E in my fish oil and what is it used for?
Answer: To preserve your fish oil freshness.

Seems pretty straight forward right, ha! That did not satisfy my curiosity at all, yes it’s a simple answer, but too simple if you ask me, so I decided to research a bit further…

Fish oil is a food and therefore subject to “going bad” or in the case of oil “rancid” (Ewww!!). Fish oil is delicate and damaged easily, which is why many supplement companies use something else to prolong the shelf-life of fish oil. Most of the time you can find Vitamin E as a “natural preservative.” in many oil blends. Now, no one wants rancid oil, but at what cost? Do you want an oil to last months?? Sure your pocket book does, but fish oil should not last months. The “natural preservative” listed is most likely Vitamin E from soy oil, which we really do not need extra amounts of soy because it’s already in everything.

Furthermore, your fish oil should be taken straight, nothing else added (ok maybe flavoring, but no preservative necessary). If you are really concerned about a Vitamin E deficiency (which is extremely rare I might add), then get your Vitamin E in its complete form, not an extracted version of it.

Vitamin E, like many other Vitamins occurs naturally in many foods and when eaten in the food you are getting the whole Vitamin (often referred to as the Complex…Ex: Vitamin E Complex), which leads to better intake of that Vitamin. Vitamin E found in vitamins and supplements can be either “natural” or “synthetic.” Always stay away from synthetic since there is just not enough research about synthetic vitamins and when in doubt choose the least processed version. The “natural” Vitamin E in supplements is often listed as “alpha-tocopherol,” which as I stated above is only a portion of the Vitamin E complex.

Final Thoughts: Vitamin E is necessary, but don’t get it from a supplement, instead from food sources. Here are some examples: Avocado, Dark green leafy veggies, 100% cold-pressed Olive Oil, Hazelnuts. You are much better off to eat your vitamins than take them in a supplement.