Vitamin E is an antioxidant vitamin used in many skin creams and multivitamin preparations. In 1922, vitamin E was demonstrated to be an essential nutrient.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 7 references
The mechanism of action for most of vitamin E's effects are still unknown. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, preventing free radical reactions with cell membranes. Though in some cases vitamin E has been shown to have pro-oxidant activity.
One mechanism of vitamin E's antioxidant effect is in the termination of lipid peroxidation. Vitamin E reacts with unstable lipid radicals, producing stable lipids and a relatively stable vitamin E radical. The vitamin E radical is then reduced back to stable vitamin E by reaction with ascorbate or glutathione.
- Primary indication
- Vitamin E supplementation is indicated for treatment of vitamin E deficiency which can occur in cystic fibrosis, cholestasis and severe liver disease, abetalipoproteinemia or simply poor diet.Curator reviewed · 3 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C29H50O2 · 430.7061 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 1996 · United States, 2015
- Also known as
- alpha-tocopherol
- Code names
- E-307A · INS-307A · INS NO.307A · J24.260H
- Brand names
Resolves to
GVJHHUAWPYXKBD-IEOSBIPESA-NSMILESCC(C)CCC[C@@H](C)CCC[C@@H](C)CCC[C@]1(C)CCC2=C(O1)C(C)=C(C)C(O)=C2CWhat you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Vitamin E, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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