Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)
For the health condition: Menopause
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) has been used traditionally to help manage menopausal symptoms, particularly hot flashes and vaginal dryness. The rationale stems from early reports and anecdotal experiences suggesting that Vitamin E's antioxidant properties might mitigate vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. Some small clinical studies, mainly from the mid-to-late 20th century, hinted at modest benefits—such as a reduction in the frequency or severity of hot flashes when compared to placebo. For example, a 2007 double-blind randomized controlled trial published in "Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation" found a slight decrease in hot flash frequency with Vitamin E supplementation, but the effect was minimal and not as robust as with hormone therapy or other pharmacological interventions.
However, more recent reviews and meta-analyses generally conclude that the evidence is weak and inconsistent. Major professional organizations do not recommend Vitamin E as a first-line or evidence-based treatment for menopausal symptoms. Despite this, Vitamin E is still sometimes found in over-the-counter menopausal support supplements, reflecting its traditional rather than scientifically validated role. Overall, the use of Vitamin E for menopause is supported more by tradition and historical use than by strong scientific evidence.
More about Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)
More about Menopause
Other ingredients used for Menopause
7-hydroxymatairesinol (HMR)alfalfa
aloe vera
ashwagandha
asparagus
astragalus
black cohosh
black currant
Indian frankincense
bupleurum falcatum
burdock
calcium
chaste tree
cordyceps
damiana
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)
DIM (diindolylmethane)
dog rose
dong quai root
eleuthero
evening primrose oil
fenugreek
fish oil
flaxseed
genistein
genistin
hibiscus
HMR lignan
hops
knotweed
jujube
kudzu
licorice root
lignans
maca
marine lipid
melatonin
moringa
motherwort
nettle
okra
omega-3 fatty acids
ophiopogon root
pollen
pomegranate
rehmannia glutinosa
reishi mushroom
rose oil
saffron
sage
soybean
valerian root
vitamin B6
vitamin D
vitamin D3
vitamin E
seaweed
wild yam
red clover
atractylodes
smilax
rubia cordifolia
bee pollen
lingzhi
root tuber
dioscorea
royal jelly
Equol (proprietary)
anemarrhena asphodeloides
barrenwort
goji berry
amaranth
soy isoflavones
27-deoxyactein
8-Prenylnaringenin
akebia
Antler
Achyranthes
Alchemilla
Agrimonia pilosa
Agnuside
Ashoka
Anemarrhena
Atractylone
Black Seed
Banyan
Bioflavonoids
Black root
Chinese Silkvine
Cohosh
Clary sage
Cnidium
Cynomorium
Crinum latifolium
DHEA
Danshen
Daidzein
Durian
Dong Quai
Elk antler
Evening Primrose
Estrogen
Isoflavones
Lotus
Prickly Pear Cactus
Rose
Rhubarb
Soy Protein
Vervain
Other health conditions supported by Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)
Age SpotsAging (prevention)
Alzheimer's Disease
Arteriosclerosis
Arthritis
Asthma
Cardiovascular Disease
Cataracts
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)
Dementia
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Eczema
Eye Problems
Eyesight (poor)
Free Radical Damage
Hair (loss or thinning)
Heart (weakness)
Hepatitis
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Macular Degeneration
Memory and Brain Function
Menopause
Migraine