Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium and Carotenoids. National Academy Press, 2000. Now you know why vitamin E in the form of naturally occurring alpha-tocopherol is so good for you, and you know how much you need. Even so, there most likely is a gap between the amount you need and what you actually consume. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, on average, men get up to 10 milligrams of vitamin E daily, while women consume upwards of seven.
Seniors consume less than their younger counterparts.
Sure, there are plenty of dietary supplements and foods fortified with vitamin E that contain alpha-tocopherol. Because their vitamin E may not work as well in the body to keep you healthy. And it's possible to get too much vitamin E from dietary supplements, too. An overall diet should be moderate in fat, but you do need fat. Some fats are better than others.