Ingredient
Vitamin E in Protoflow: 13 mg a Serving
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant, and Protoflow lists 13 mg as d-alpha tocopheryl succinate, 87% of the Daily Value. The SELECT trial found vitamin E at 180 mg of a different form raised prostate cancer risk 17%. Large doses can add to bleeding risk.
Written by the Protoflow label teamUpdated
The vitamin01
What is vitamin E?
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and antioxidant found in nuts, seeds and plant oils, and the body needs about 15 mg a day, which is also the Daily Value (NIH ODS, Vitamin E).
The Protoflow label prints "Vitamin E (as D-Alpha Tocopheryl Succinate)", 13 mg, 87% of the Daily Value. That makes it one of two lines with a Daily Value, together with niacin. Succinate is a salt form of vitamin E used in some supplements. The amount is below the 15 mg daily need, so on its own it is a modest dose.
Most men in the United States get less than the recommended amount from food, but few show signs of deficiency, which is rare outside certain fat-absorption disorders.
| Name on the label | Vitamin E (as D-Alpha Tocopheryl Succinate) |
|---|---|
| What it is | Fat-soluble vitamin, succinate ester of d-alpha-tocopherol |
| Place on the label | 1 of 14 |
| Amount per serving (2 capsules) | 13 mg |
| Per capsule, if split evenly | 6.5 mg (the label does not say) |
| % Daily Value | 87% |
| Named on the sales page? | No |
| Amount used in research | SELECT trial: 400 IU (180 mg) of a different form, which raised prostate cancer risk |
| Strength of evidence | Not a prostate treatment; a high-dose trial found harm |
| Marketed or traditional use | Antioxidant vitamin |
| Main caution | Large doses can add to bleeding risk with blood thinners. |
The trial02
What did the SELECT trial find about vitamin E and the prostate?
It found that vitamin E supplements may harm adult men, with a 17% higher chance of prostate cancer than placebo (NIH ODS, Vitamin E).
The trial gave men 400 IU, about 180 mg, a day of dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate. The Protoflow form is different and the amount is much smaller, 13 mg, which is about a fourteenth. So the trial does not say Protoflow raises risk. It does explain why a product marketed to men with prostate concerns should not assume that more vitamin E is better, and why doctors do not suggest high-dose vitamin E for the prostate.
It is a lesson about antioxidants in general. The idea that antioxidants protect the prostate sounds sensible, and it was tested in a very large trial. The result went the other way at the dose used.
Bleeding03
Does vitamin E affect bleeding?
Large doses may raise bleeding risk with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs such as warfarin, and the upper limit from supplements, 1,000 mg a day, is based on that risk (NIH ODS, Vitamin E).
Thirteen milligrams is far below that limit, so vitamin E alone is not the concern. It becomes one of two or three small contributions when you add ginkgo (NCCIH, Ginkgo) and Chinese ginseng (NCCIH, Asian Ginseng), both of which have clotting notes. Taken together, they are the reason the label's advice to consult a physician if you take any medication matters for men on blood thinners.
See a doctor today
- You cannot pass urine at all, or only a few drops with a full, painful bladder
- Blood or clots in the urine
- Fever or chills with burning or painful urination
- Severe pain in the lower belly, back or genitals
- A sudden change after a fall or injury
Book an appointment
- A weak or slow stream, or stopping and starting
- Needing to go again soon after you finish
- Waking more than usual at night to urinate
- A sudden, strong urge that is hard to hold
- Dribbling after you finish
- A new erection problem, or a PSA you have not discussed
Urinary symptoms can come from an enlarged prostate, infection, diabetes, medicines, sleep apnea, and sometimes cancer. Lists drawn from NIDDK (NIDDK, Enlarged Prostate (BPH)) and MedlinePlus (MedlinePlus, Nocturia). A supplement cannot sort these causes out.
At a glance04
How does the vitamin E amount compare with the guidance?
| Measure | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Value and adult need | 15 mg | (NIH ODS, Vitamin E) |
| Protoflow serving | 13 mg | 87% DV, as succinate |
| SELECT trial dose | 180 mg (400 IU) | A different form; 17% higher prostate cancer risk (NIH ODS, Vitamin E) |
| Upper limit from supplements | 1,000 mg | Based on bleeding risk (NIH ODS, Vitamin E) |
Remember that you may also take vitamin E from a multivitamin. Count it all.
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See packsForms05
Does the form of vitamin E matter?
Yes: vitamin E comes in several forms, and results from one form do not automatically apply to another.
Natural vitamin E is d-alpha-tocopherol. Supplements add esters such as acetate and succinate to make the vitamin more stable. The SELECT trial used a synthetic mixture called dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (NIH ODS, Vitamin E). Protoflow uses the d-alpha succinate form. Whether the body handles them identically is a question for nutrition scientists, and we are not in a position to settle it. What we can say is that the trial and the label do not match, which is why the trial is a caution and not a verdict.
Units can confuse. Older labels use IU and newer ones use mg. NIH converts 400 IU of the synthetic form to about 180 mg, while natural forms weigh differently per IU. The Protoflow label uses mg, and the Daily Value of 15 mg makes 13 mg equal to 87%.
In practice, the reading is straightforward. Thirteen milligrams in a serving is around what a handful of almonds and some sunflower seeds would provide over a day, so it is not an unusual dose. The questions for most men are about the whole formula and not about this one line.
If you already take a multivitamin or a separate vitamin E capsule, add up the amounts. Many multivitamins have 10 to 30 mg of vitamin E, and a separate capsule may carry 180 mg or more. Combined with Protoflow, the total can become much larger than you meant. A quick look at each label and a note on paper will show the sum, and your pharmacist can help if the units differ.
Finally, remember that antioxidants are not a prostate treatment. The reasoning that sounds persuasive in a sales page, that antioxidants protect cells, was tested in the largest prostate-focused vitamin trial to date, and vitamin E did not help. See the claims versus evidence page for how this site treats such claims.
Asking first06
Who should check with a doctor about vitamin E?
Men on blood thinners, men with a prostate cancer history or a high-risk family history, and men planning surgery should ask a doctor before adding any vitamin E supplement.
The SELECT result is the reason for the cancer-history advice. For the rest, the label's own line applies: consult a physician if you take any medication. Do not stop a prescribed medicine because of a supplement.
Next, the last group on the panel is on the minor lines page.
FAQ07
Vitamin E in Protoflow: questions answered
How much vitamin E is in Protoflow?
The label lists 13 mg of vitamin E as d-alpha tocopheryl succinate per serving, 87% of the Daily Value.
Is vitamin E good for the prostate?
No. The SELECT trial found that vitamin E supplements at 180 mg may raise prostate cancer risk. Protoflow holds a much smaller amount of a different form.
Can I take vitamin E with a blood thinner?
Ask your doctor or pharmacist first. Large doses may add to bleeding with anticoagulants such as warfarin, and the formula also holds ginkgo.
What is d-alpha tocopheryl succinate?
It is a salt form of natural vitamin E. The Protoflow label lists it, but studies such as SELECT used other forms.
Does vitamin E have an upper limit?
Yes. The upper limit from supplements is 1,000 mg a day for adults, based on bleeding risk. Protoflow's 13 mg is far below it.
Do I need vitamin E from a supplement?
Most men do not, because food supplies it and deficiency is rare. A supplement is optional, not a requirement.
Who wrote this08
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a USA authorized retailer of Protoflow, not by the manufacturer or the label distributor. Buying through our order links earns us money.
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