Hypervitaminosis E

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 6 Nov 2018

Hypervitaminosis E (or hypertocopherolaemia) is very rare as vitamin E has low toxicity even in large doses.

Clinical presentation 

In published case reports, patients have presented with a bleeding tendency e.g. cerebral hemorrhage 1. These affected individuals have imbibed supraphysiological doses for periods of greater than one year, in the form of excessive amounts of nutritional supplements in the mistaken belief that their antioxidant effects would be beneficial.

Pathology

Hypervitaminosis E manifests primarily as an anticoagulant state. This is due to its antagonism of vitamin K leading to elongation of the prothrombin time and therefore increased INR. 

See also

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