CompoAtlas

Vitamin E in food supplements

11,584 supplements declared in France contain a form of this nutrient

Vitamin E: in France, a food supplement may not provide more than 30 mg a day (Order of 9 May 2006, not revised since November 2006, Annex III); for adults, EFSA's upper safe limit is 300 mg a day. The doses of the 2006 Order have not been revised since the amending Order of 14 November 2006, and some were annulled by the Conseil d'État in 2011; the DGCCRF accepted higher levels for some nutrients through guidelines published until January 2019, and an update of the Order is being prepared (ministerial answer published in the Official Journal on 11 February 2025).

Order of 9 May 2006, Annex III. French orders of 9 May 2006 and 14 November 2006 as published in the Official Journal (maximum daily doses), retrieved 21 October 2026.

EFSA, Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (version 11, August 2025), retrieved 21 October 2026.

Written Question No 2686, ministry answer published in the Official Journal on 11 February 2025.

What we know about this ingredient

Associated research

ClinicalTrials.gov · A trial is not proof: it tests a hypothesis.

2026-11-01

In plain words

À quoi il sert, selon les fabricants

Objectifs les plus souvent annoncés pour les compléments qui en contiennent (vitamine E) : peau (1638 produits), antioxydant (1446 produits), immunité (1437 produits), cheveux et ongles (1102 produits), œil / vision (832 produits).

Ce sont les objectifs déclarés par les fabricants à l'administration, pas des effets démontrés. Sur l'emballage, seules les allégations de santé autorisées par l'Union peuvent être écrites.

Compl'Alim, food supplement declarations (France), retrieved 23 October 2026.

Jusqu'où c'est sûr

Pour un adulte, l'EFSAEuropean Food Safety Authority. fixe la limite supérieure de sécurité à 300 mg/j : c'est l'apport quotidien qui, pris sur le long terme, ne devrait pas provoquer d'effet indésirable. Au-delà, le risque augmente. Un complément n'est qu'une partie de l'apport.

Précision de l'EFSA : Révision des limites en cours à l'EFSA.

EFSA, Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (version 11, August 2025), retrieved 21 October 2026.

La règle en France

En France, la dose journalière recommandée d'un complément ne doit pas apporter plus de 30 mg (arrêté du 9 mai 2006, non révisé depuis novembre 2006). Compl'Alim ne publie pas la dose des produits déclarés : comparez celle de l'étiquette à ce plafond et à la limite de sécurité de l'EFSA.

French orders of 9 May 2006 and 14 November 2006 as published in the Official Journal (maximum daily doses), retrieved 21 October 2026.

EFSA safety references

Le repère de l'EFSA porte sur l'apport total d'une journée, alimentation et compléments.

EFSA daily references
PopulationTypeValue
1-3 yearsUpper limit100 mg/j
4-6 yearsUpper limit120 mg/j
7-10 yearsUpper limit160 mg/j
11-14 yearsUpper limit220 mg/j
15-17 yearsUpper limit260 mg/j
adultsUpper limit300 mg/j
pregnancyUpper limit300 mg/j
breastfeedingUpper limit300 mg/j

EFSA review of limits in progress

SCF, 2003d. EFSA, Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (version 11, August 2025), retrieved 21 October 2026.

Maximum dose in France

Maximum daily dose per supplement in France: 30 mg, according to the Order of 9 May 2006.

The doses of the 2006 Order have not been revised since the amending Order of 14 November 2006, and some were annulled by the Conseil d'État in 2011; the DGCCRF accepted higher levels for some nutrients through guidelines published until January 2019, and an update of the Order is being prepared (ministerial answer published in the Official Journal on 11 February 2025).

Order of 9 May 2006, Annex III. French orders of 9 May 2006 and 14 November 2006 as published in the Official Journal (maximum daily doses), retrieved 21 October 2026.

Where to find it in food

Selected everyday foods, ranked by decreasing content across all confidence levels. Each value is at least one tenth of the maximum among the foods examined. Content varies with the food and preparation.

Content per 100 g of edible portion
FoodContentUnitCiqual confidence code
Blackcurrant, raw1.37mgD (low)
Comté cheese0.8mgD (low)
Mackerel, roasted or oven-baked0.71mgA (high)
Calf liver, cooked0.71mgA (high)
Tuna, roasted or oven-baked0.32mgA (high)

The Ciqual code indicates confidence in each value: A high, B good, C moderate, D low (a less certain value).

ANSES, Ciqual table 2025, published on 19 November 2025. Licence Ouverte 2.0.

Authorised health claims

  • « Vitamin E contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin E as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
15 refused or revoked claims: they cannot appear on packaging
  • « Can neutralise free radicals and help maintain a healthy heart. »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Due to Vitamin E favourable effects on free radicals it could support reducing the age related cognitive decline. »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Helps memory and perception retention, especially in the elderly. »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Necessary for healthy teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Necessary to maintain energy and general vitality »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food is not sufficiently defined to be able to be assessed and the claim could not therefore be substantiated.
  • « Protects the lens. »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Regeneration of vitamin C »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Support the microcirculation and the oxygenation of the scalp. »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Vitamin C, E, A, D, B6, B12 folic acid, Selenium, Zinc, Copper and Iron are important for the immune system/natural defences »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects the body's cells. »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « [In German] Wichtig für Blutfließeigenschaften. Clarification provided Important for blood flow parameters. »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.

Official English text, as entered in the Union register. A claim may only be used under its conditions.

1 authorised claim, 15 refused or revoked. EU Register of nutrition and health claims, retrieved 21 October 2026.

Forms declared in supplements

Union list: vitamin and mineral forms that may be used in a food supplement (Directive 2002/46/EC, Annex II).

Directive 2002/46/EC on food supplements, latest consolidated version (Annex II: forms of vitamins and minerals), retrieved 23 October 2026.

In cosmetics: TOCOPHEROL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE.

Products containing it