What it's actually good for
Vitamin E is the body's primary fat-soluble antioxidant, protecting cell membranes and LDL particles from oxidative damage. Despite compelling biochemistry, large clinical trials have largely failed to show that vitamin E supplements prevent cardiovascular disease or cancer — and some trials raised safety signals at high doses. The current consensus is that dietary vitamin E (from nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, and leafy greens) is clearly beneficial, but high-dose supplementation is not recommended for disease prevention. Low-dose supplementation with mixed tocopherols may be reasonable for those with limited dietary intake, but this is a case where the food-first approach has stronger support than the supplement approach.