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Nutr-E-Sol (Oral)
Generic name: vitamin e
Brand names: Alpha-E, Aqua Gem-E, Aquasol E, D-Alpha Gems, E-400, E-600, E-Gems, Formula E 400, Gamma E-Gems, Gamma E Plus, Key-E, Natural Vitamin Blend E-400IU, Nutr-E-Sol
Uses for Nutr-E-Sol
Vitamins are substances that your body needs for growth and good health. You only need them in small amounts, and you can find them in the foods you eat. Vitamin E helps stop a process called oxidation, which can sometimes harm your body. It also helps your nerves and muscles work properly.
Some health issues may increase your need for vitamin E. These include:
- Intestine disease
- Liver disease
- Pancreas disease
- Surgical removal of stomach
Your health care professional should decide if you need more vitamin E.
Infants who are on formula that does not have added vitamin E may be at risk for a vitamin E deficiency. Additionally, diets that are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids may increase your need for vitamin E.
There is no proof that vitamin E can treat cancer or prevent or treat acne, aging, hair loss, bee stings, liver spots on the hands, bursitis, diaper rash, frostbite, stomach ulcers, heart attacks, labor pains, certain blood diseases, miscarriage, muscular dystrophy, poor posture, sexual impotence, sterility, infertility, menopause, sunburn, or lung damage from air pollution. While some people use vitamin E to try to prevent certain types of cancer, there is not enough evidence to show it works.
A lack of vitamin E is very rare, except in people who have a condition that prevents their body from absorbing it.
You can buy vitamin E without a prescription.
To stay healthy, it is important to eat a balanced and varied diet. Follow any diet plan your health care professional suggests. For your specific vitamin and/or mineral needs, ask your health care professional for a list of suitable foods. If you think you are not getting enough vitamins and/or minerals from your diet, you might consider taking a dietary supplement.
You can find vitamin E in various foods such as vegetable oils (corn, cottonseed, soybean, safflower), wheat germ, whole-grain cereals, and green leafy vegetables. Cooking and storage can reduce the amount of vitamin E in foods.
Vitamin supplements cannot replace a healthy diet and will not give you energy. Your body also needs other nutrients found in food, like protein, minerals, carbohydrates, and fat. Vitamins often cannot work properly without other foods. For instance, you need some fat for your body to absorb vitamin E.
The daily amount of vitamin E needed is defined in different ways.
- For U.S.—
- Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are the amounts of vitamins and minerals needed for most healthy people to get enough nutrition. RDAs can vary based on a person's age, sex, and physical condition (e.g., pregnancy).
- Daily Values (DVs) are used on food and dietary supplement labels to show the percentage of the recommended daily amount of each nutrient that a serving provides. DV has replaced the previous term United States Recommended Daily Allowances (USRDAs).
- For Canada—
- Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNIs) are used to figure out how much vitamins, minerals, and protein are needed for good nutrition and to reduce the risk of chronic disease.
Vitamin E comes in different forms, including d- or dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate, d- or dl-alpha tocopherol, and d- or dl-alpha tocopheryl acid succinate. In the past, the RDA for vitamin E was given in Units. This has been changed to alpha tocopherol equivalents (alpha-TE) or milligrams (mg) of d-alpha tocopherol. One Unit equals 1 mg of dl-alpha tocopherol acetate or 0.6 mg of d-alpha tocopherol. Most products sold in stores are still labeled in Units.
Normal daily recommended intakes in milligrams (mg) of alpha tocopherol equivalents (mg alpha-TE) and Units for vitamin E are generally defined as follows:
| Persons | U.S. | Canada | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mg alpha-TE | Units | mg alpha-TE | Units | |
| Infants and children Birth to 3 years of age | 3–6 | 5–10 | 3–4 | 5–6.7 |
| 4 to 6 years of age | 7 | 11.7 | 5 | 8.3 |
| 7 to 10 years of age | 7 | 11.7 | 6–8 | 10–13 |
| Adolescent and adult males | 10 | 16.7 | 6–10 | 10–16.7 |
| Adolescent and adult females | 8 | 13 | 5–7 | 8.3–11.7 |
| Pregnant females | 10 | 16.7 | 8–9 | 13–15 |
| Breast-feeding females | 11–12 | 18–20 | 9–10 | 15–16.7 |
This section was rewritten for readability and reviewed for meaning.
Before using Nutr-E-Sol
If you are taking this dietary supplement without a prescription, carefully read and follow any precautions on the label. For this supplement, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Problems in children have not been reported with intake of normal daily recommended amounts. You should check with your health care professional if you are giving your baby an unfortified formula. In that case, the baby must get the vitamins needed some other way. Some studies have shown that premature infants may have low levels of vitamin E. Your health care professional may recommend a vitamin E supplement.
Geriatric
Problems in older adults have not been reported with intake of normal daily recommended amounts.
Breast Feeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Interactions with Medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this dietary supplement, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this dietary supplement with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Dicumarol
Using this dietary supplement with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Warfarin
Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this dietary supplement. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Bleeding problems—Vitamin E, when taken in doses greater than 800 Units a day for long periods of time, may make this condition worse.
This section was rewritten for readability and reviewed for meaning.
Side Effects of Nutr-E-Sol
Along with its beneficial effects, a medicine can also cause some unwanted effects. While not all of these side effects may happen, if they do, they might require medical attention.
Contact your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of the following side effects:
With doses greater than 400 Units a day and long-term use
- Blurred vision
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- headache
- nausea or stomach cramps
- unusual tiredness or weakness
Other side effects not mentioned may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, consult your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
In the U.S.
- Alpha-E
- Aqua Gem-E
- Aquasol E
- D-Alpha Gems
- E-400
- E-600
- E-Gems
- Formula E 400
- Gamma E-Gems
- Gamma E Plus
- Key-E
- Natural Vitamin Blend E-400IU
- Nutr-E-Sol
Available Dosage Forms:
- Tablet
- Solution
- Capsule, Liquid Filled
- Liquid
- Oil
- Capsule
Therapeutic Class: Nutritive Agent
Pharmacologic Class: Vitamin E (class)
This section was rewritten for readability and reviewed for meaning.
Proper use of Nutr-E-Sol
Dosing
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- For oral solution dosage form: To prevent the following deficiencies in infants: Infants receiving a formula high in polyunsaturated fatty acids—15 to 25 Units per day or 7 Units per 32 ounces of formula. Infants with certain colon problems—15 to 25 Units per kilogram (kg) (6.8 to 11 Units per pound) of body weight per day. The water-soluble form of vitamin E must be used. Infants of normal birthweight—5 Units per 32 ounces of formula.
- For oral dosage forms (capsules, tablets, oral solution): To prevent deficiency for individuals (other than infants), the amount taken by mouth is based on normal daily recommended intakes: For the U.S. Adult and teenage males—10 milligrams (mg) of alpha tocopherol equivalents (mg alpha-TE) or 16.7 Units per day. Adult and teenage females—8 mg alpha-TE or 13 Units per day. Pregnant females—10 mg alpha-TE or 16.7 Units per day. Breast-feeding females—11 to 12 mg alpha-TE or 18 to 20 Units per day. Children 4 to 10 years of age—7 mg alpha-TE or 11.7 Units per day. Children birth to 3 years of age—3 to 6 mg alpha-TE or 5 to 10 Units per day. For Canada Adult and teenage males—6 to 10 mg alpha-TE or 10 to 16.7 Units per day. Adult and teenage females—5 to 7 mg alpha-TE or 8.3 to 11.7 Units per day. Pregnant females—8 to 9 mg alpha-TE or 13 to 15 Units per day. Breast-feeding females—9 to 10 mg alpha-TE or 15 to 16.7 Units per day. Children 7 to 10 years of age—6 to 8 mg alpha-TE or 10 to 13 Units per day. Children 4 to 6 years of age—5 mg alpha-TE or 8.3 Units per day. Children birth to 3 years of age—3 to 4 mg alpha-TE or 5 to 6.7 Units per day. To treat deficiency: Adults, teenagers, and children—Treatment dose is determined by prescriber for each individual based on the severity of deficiency.
For individuals taking the oral liquid form of this dietary supplement:
- This preparation should be taken by mouth even though it comes in a dropper bottle.
- This dietary supplement may be dropped directly into the mouth or mixed with cereal, fruit juice, or other food.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
Store the dietary supplement in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Frequently asked questions
- What are antioxidants and should you take supplements?
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Content is provided for education and is not medical advice. See our medical disclaimer.