Is Vitamin E safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Vitamin E. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Alpha-tocopherol is the major isoform of vitamin E present in the human diet and in breastmilk.[ 1 , 2 ] Levels are highest in colostrum and decrease postnatally.[ 3 ] Higher alpha-tocopherol milk levels result in greater milk antioxidant capacity.[ 2 , 4 , 5 ] Maternal serum levels correlate with breastmilk levels during the early postpartum period, but this relationship has not been studied in mature milk.[ 6 , 7 ] Vitamin E is naturally found in plant seed oils, and women with higher intakes of polyunsaturated fatty acids during lactation have higher alpha-tocopherol in breastmilk.[ 8 ] A serum alpha-tocopherol concentration 12 micromoles/L indicates vitamin E deficiency in adults and children. United States Food and Drug Administration standards for dietary supplement labeling recommend mcg rather than the traditional international units (IU) when describing vitamin E doses. One IU = 0.67 mg = 1.556 micromoles (0.43 mg per micromole) of the naturally occurring stereoisomer d-alpha-tocopherol, also known as RRR-alpha-tocopherol. Some vitamin E supplements and food fortifiers are manufactured using the synthetic racemic dl-alpha-tocopherol form where 1 IU = 0.45 mg.[ 1 ] Maternal Levels. In mothers not taking a vitamin E supplement, average alpha-tocopherol levels reported in colostrum range from 20 to 50 micromoles/L. At 1 to 2 weeks postpartum, milk levels are 7 to 14 micromoles/L, and beyond 2 weeks they are 3 to 9 micromoles/L.[ 3 , 9 ] Hindmilk levels are higher than foremilk.[ 10 ] Maternal obesity and smoking are associated with lower milk alpha-tocopherol levels.[ 11 , 12 ] Preterm birth ( 37 weeks gestational age) may also be associated with lower milk levels.[ 10 ] In some comparative studies, reported levels range from 1/3 to 2/3 lower in preterm than term milk.[ 11 , 12 ] Others have not found a difference associated with prematurity.[ 13 , 14 ] In a series of prospective studies conducted by the same research group in Brazil, a single supplemental dos
Source: NIH LactMed (National Library of Medicine).
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.