Allergy to vitamin E: symptoms, causes, treatment

The benefits of vitamin E are difficult to overestimate, because it has powerful antioxidant properties, reduces the risk development of oncological diseases, improves the function of the nervous system, is an immunomodulator and adaptogen.

An allergy to vitamin E (tocopherol) becomes a big disappointment, but is this vitamin always causing unpleasant symptoms?

Causes of tocopherol allergy

This vitamin is considered non-toxic, so a minor overdose usually does not cause pathological symptoms. For the same reason, tocopherol allergy is rare. The main factor that can provoke a negative response from the immune system is the presence of excipients in the composition of vitamin preparations. Such funds may contain

• flavoring additives;
• dyes;
• flavors;
• preservatives;
• compounds that improve the structure of the dosage form, and other possible allergens.

Tocopherol is very popular among women, as it significantly improves the condition of the skin, hair and nails, as well as normalizes the reproductive system. In pursuit of natural beauty and health, some have been taking pharmacy products with vitamin E for a long time and regularly use cosmetics with the addition of tocopherol. The resulting hypovitaminosis may well provoke local allergic reactions.

People with diseases of the pancreas, gallbladder, liver can face hypervitaminosis and allergy to vitamin E, because its metabolism slows down in such conditions. They should be very careful when using fat-soluble vitamins. Symptoms of tocopherol allergy often appear in children in the first years of life. This is due to the imperfection of the child's immune system, which can react violently even to the substances necessary for the baby.

It is worth noting that monovitamins are rarely used today, most people want to supply the body with all possible biologically active substances, and therefore acquire vitamin and mineral complexes. Negative reactions after taking such funds develop much more often, since the compounds contained in them enter into chemical reactions.

In addition, the simultaneous intake of a large amount of several vitamins into the body becomes a serious provoking factor. Since tocopherol in drugs is usually combined with vitamin A, it is difficult to determine which of these two substances caused the negative reactions.

Allergy to artificial vitamin E

Another feature of any vitamin preparations is the presence of inactive synthetic analogs of tocopherol. Vitamin E found in food is a complex complex. It contains components that help the vitamin to be absorbed completely.

Unfortunately, vitamin-containing preparations of these components are deprived, and our body does not know how to synthesize them. That is why synthetic vitamin E is less assimilated than natural vitamin. In the best case, "pharmacy" tocopherol can simply be excreted without consequences. However, the undigested remainder of the synthetic vitamin often circulates in the body for a long time, interacts with other compounds and causes allergic reactions.

What's more, some doctors believe that consuming artificially obtained vitamin E increases stress on the kidneys and liver, disrupts the constancy of the internal environment of the body and impairs the functioning of the immune systems. A weakened immune system may respond inadequately to various stimuli, while a person, meanwhile, suspects that he is allergic to vitamin E. Some manufacturers claim that their vitamin preparation contains natural tocopherol derived from vegetable oils or nuts. It doesn't really matter, because the vitamin E contained in pharmaceutical products is always inactivated.

Vitamin E Allergy Symptoms

Allergic reactions to vitamin E contained in food are extremely rare. Usually, unpleasant symptoms result from an overdose of vitamin preparations. There are complaints about

• rashes, represented by small vesicles with transparent contents;
• redness and itching of the skin;
• copious transparent discharge from the nasal passages;
• nasal congestion;
• sneezing;
• pain in the eyes;
• lacrimation;
• headache.

Less commonly, severe reactions are observed, accompanied by angioedema. Symptoms of this condition may be as follows:

• narrowing of the eye slits due to swelling of the soft tissues of the face;
• difficulty speaking due to swelling of the lips;
• violation of sensitivity in the limbs;
• acute abdominal pain;
• shortness of breath and hoarseness of the voice against the background of laryngeal edema.

Quincke's edema can be fatal, so its development requires immediate medical attention.

Symptoms of hypervitaminosis differ from those of an allergic reaction, but both sometimes occur together. An overdose of vitamin E may indicate

• nausea and vomiting;
• increased blood pressure;
• painful sensations in the right hypochondrium and in the lumbar region;
• pain in the abdomen and heart;
• general deterioration in well-being (weakness, insomnia, decreased performance, irritability).

With tocopherol injections, a painful induration and redness may appear at the injection site.

Treatment of an allergic reaction

If unpleasant symptoms appear while taking vitamin E or eating foods rich in tocopherol, you need to stop using vitamin medicines and remove food from the diet that may be the cause allergies. In order to remove remaining allergens as quickly as possible, you must drink enough clean water.

Enterosorbents ("Smecta", "Enterodez", activated carbon) also help to cleanse the body. Antihistamines for oral administration help to put an end to allergic processes and eliminate symptoms. The safest among them are the latest generation drugs: Telfast, Zirtek. In the case of Quincke's edema, in addition to antihistamines, corticosteroids and diuretics can be used.

For the local treatment of allergic dermatitis, antihistamine gels are prescribed: Fenistil-gel, Suprastin ointment, Zyrtec ointment. To reduce unpleasant symptoms such as itching and rhinitis, it is recommended to use local therapy agents:

• cream "Advantan" or "Bepanten", zinc ointment;
• ointment with menthol or camphor;
• antihistamine nasal drops or sprays "Allergodil", "Cromohexal", "Levocabastin".

In cases where allergic dermatitis is severe and prolonged, it is advisable to use topical corticosteroids in the form of ointments, gels or creams (Dermovate, Liderm, Sinaflan). It should be remembered that such drugs have a number of contraindications and side effects, therefore, they cannot be used for a long time without the permission of a doctor. Many of them are not recommended for children, pregnant and lactating women.

Prevention of tocopherol allergy

There are several ways you can reduce your risk of developing a vitamin E allergy.

1. If there is an urgent need to use a pharmacy product, choose a drug with a minimum amount of excipients and other vitamins. It is best to give preference to an oily solution of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate).
2. It is advisable to start taking it gradually, slowly coming to the recommended daily dose.
3. People who are allergic to vitamin E are better off using cosmetics that contain tocopherol.

Prevention of tocopherol deficiency should be carried out by including in the diet foods rich in vitamin E: vegetable oils, nuts, leafy vegetables, sea buckthorn and rose hips. "Pharmacy" vitamins should be regarded as medicines, and medicines should not be used uncontrollably.