Vitamin E levels: what's normal, high and low
A fat-soluble antioxidant that protects cell membranes from damage.
Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD · Last reviewed September 2026
The short answer
Vitamin E is measured with a standard blood draw after an 8–12 hour fast. A typical reference range is 5.50 – 17.0 mg/L. At TestWell it's $40.99 all-in as Vitamin E (Alpha-Tocopherol), results in 3–7 business days, drawn at Quest or Labcorp. An out-of-range result is a prompt to look closer, not a diagnosis.
- Units
- mg/L
- Sample
- Blood draw
- Fasting
- 8–12 hours
- Results
- 3–7 business days
- Price
- $40.99
- Labs
- Quest or Labcorp
Vitamin E Reference Range
These are the typical adult reference ranges used by major US labs. Your report will include the specific range used by the lab that processed your sample.
| Population | Range |
|---|---|
| age 18+ | 5.50 – 17.0 mg/L |
Reference ranges are educational. Always interpret your result with the specific range printed on your lab report and discuss anything outside the range with a clinician.
Have a result in hand? analyze it with your AI assistant using these reviewed ranges, or run it through our explainer. Tools: look up another marker's range · convert lab units
What your Vitamin E result may mean
Can reflect fat-malabsorption disorders or, rarely, dietary inadequacy.
What a low Vitamin E means: causes, symptoms, next steps ↓Educational only — not a diagnosis. Many factors can influence a single result. Discuss anything that concerns you with a healthcare provider.
What does a low Vitamin E mean?
Low vitamin E nearly always means fat malabsorption — cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis, cholestatic liver disease, celiac or Crohn's disease, short-bowel or bariatric surgery — or a rare inherited transport defect. Diet alone rarely causes it. Because vitamin E travels in lipoproteins, a low value in someone with very low cholesterol may be proportionate rather than a true deficiency; the ratio to total lipids clarifies. Deficiency affects nerves first.
Common causes of a low Vitamin E
- Fat malabsorption: cystic fibrosis, pancreatic insufficiency, cholestasis, celiac disease, Crohn's disease
- Bariatric or intestinal surgery, short-bowel syndrome
- Abetalipoproteinemia and ataxia with vitamin E deficiency (rare, inherited)
- Very low blood lipids (proportionate low), premature infants
Ordered from most to least common.
Symptoms that can go with it
- Numbness and tingling, loss of position sense, unsteady walking
- Muscle weakness, vision changes, hemolytic anemia in infants
What clinicians usually check next
- Lipid panel to interpret the level against total lipids
- Vitamins A, D and K, stool fat or elastase, celiac antibodies
- Neurology review for nerve symptoms; supplementation directed by a clinician
Follow-up tests at TestWell: Lipid Panel ($24.99).
Should healthy adults supplement vitamin E?
No — deficiency is rare without malabsorption, and trials of high-dose vitamin E have shown no benefit and possible harm (higher-dose supplements have been linked to increased bleeding and, in one large trial, prostate cancer risk).
Educational only — not a diagnosis. A single result outside the range is a prompt to look closer with a clinician.
How do you get a Vitamin E test?
Order online, a licensed physician reviews the requisition, and you walk into a nearby lab for the draw. Vitamin E is available on its own or inside these panels — panels cost less per marker when you want the fuller picture.
| Option | Includes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin E (Alpha-Tocopherol) | This marker only | $40.99 |
Quest vs. Labcorp for Vitamin E: which lab should you pick?
Both are CLIA-certified national labs and the result is clinically equivalent, so pick whichever location is closer. Your report will print that lab's own reference range, which can differ slightly from the table above.
| Lab | Available | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Quest Diagnostics | Yes | $40.99 |
| Labcorp | Yes | $40.99 |
| BioReference (NY & NJ) | No | — |
Need help choosing a location? Use the lab finder to see draw sites near your ZIP.
Related Vitamins & Nutrients biomarkers
Markers commonly tested alongside Vitamin E.
Frequently asked
What does a low Vitamin E mean?
Low vitamin E nearly always means fat malabsorption — cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis, cholestatic liver disease, celiac or Crohn's disease, short-bowel or bariatric surgery — or a rare inherited transport defect. Diet alone rarely causes it. Because vitamin E travels in lipoproteins, a low value in someone with very low cholesterol may be proportionate rather than a true deficiency; the ratio to total lipids clarifies. Deficiency affects nerves first.
Should healthy adults supplement vitamin E?
No — deficiency is rare without malabsorption, and trials of high-dose vitamin E have shown no benefit and possible harm (higher-dose supplements have been linked to increased bleeding and, in one large trial, prostate cancer risk).
Do I need a doctor's order to test my vitamin e?
No. TestWell's licensed physician network reviews and approves your order — usually within minutes. You can place an order online without an in-person visit or a referral from your own doctor.
How long does it take to get Vitamin E results?
Most Vitamin E results are available in 1–3 business days after your specimen arrives at the lab. You'll get an email the moment your results are ready, with everything viewable in your TestWell portal.
How much does a Vitamin E test cost?
Our Vitamin E (Alpha-Tocopherol) starts at $40.99. That's the all-in price — no copays, no insurance hoops, no surprise bills. HSA and FSA cards are accepted.
Do I need to fast before my Vitamin E test?
Yes — for the most accurate result, fast for 8–12 hours before your blood draw. Water is fine; coffee, food, and supplements are not. Your prep instructions will be included with your order.
Which lab will process my Vitamin E test?
Your test will be processed by Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp, or BioReference depending on which is closest to you and which lab carries the test. All three are CLIA-certified and trusted by hospitals nationwide. You'll choose your lab during checkout from 4,000+ locations.
Ready to test your vitamin e?
Order in two minutes, get physician-approved, and visit a lab the same day. Starts at $40.99.