Vitamin E

What is a Vitamin E Test?

A Vitamin E test, also medically known as a tocopherol test, is a medical test commonly included in the diagnostic procedure that aids healthcare practitioners in quantifying vitamin E concentrations in an individual’s blood. There’s a need to check a patient’s Vitamin E levels due to its crucial role as a vital nutrient to prevent blood clot formation, strengthen your immune system, and maintain the functioning of nerves and muscles.

More specifically, the Vitamin E test serves multiple purposes. Among these are assessing the absorption in the body, evaluating excessive levels, or monitoring levels. To determine if the patient needs the test ordered, the practitioner must also consider the exhibited and experienced symptoms of too much or too little consumption of vitamin E.

The process itself is similar to other blood tests. A practitioner in charge will collect a blood sample from a vein in the patient’s arm. Then, the sample will be analyzed through a method called Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/SM) which can quantify the vitamin E concentration in the bloodstream.

A request form and document to write down the analysis and interpretation of the Vitamin E test will vary from one referring practitioner to another. However, if you’re a practitioner and you don’t have one for yourself, we created a template you can download and use in your practice. Keep reading below for information on how to get your hands on it.

How does it work?

Step One. Grab a Copy of the Template

Grab a digital and printable Vitamin E (Tocopherol) Test template copy when the need arises by following one of the two steps mentioned below:

• Clicking the “Use Template” or “Download Template” button
• Searching “Vitamin E (Tocopherol)” on Carepatron’s template library’s search bar on the app or website

Step Two. Make the Request

It’s best to interview, assess, or physically examine your patient before having them undergo a Vitamin E (Tocopherol) test to determine if this is necessary for identifying underlying causes or formulating a diagnosis. If it is, request by filling out the section on the template designed for that purpose.

Step Three. Show the Form

You or a fellow practitioner caring for the patient must present the form prior to the blood sample collection as proof of the request. Only then will the practitioner in charge collect and process the specimen.

Step Four. Analyze and Interpret

When you’ve received the results of the Vitamin E test, you can analyze and interpret them. Make sure you have a record of it to refer to when diagnosing, formulating a treatment plan, or in the future by writing down your observations and findings on the document section of the template.

Step Five. Store the Template Securely

Once finished, remember to store the template securely. Digital copies are recommended to be stored in Carepatron’s patient portal, where you and fellow healthcare practitioners can store electronic patient records for security and effortless retrieval.

When would you use this test?

Medical practitioners typically request a Vitamin E test for the following clinical purposes:

• Diagnosing Suspected Malabsorption: If a patient exhibits symptoms of a malabsorption disorder like a rare genetic condition, cystic fibrosis, or Chron's disease, the practitioner may request a Vitamin E test to confirm the suspected diagnosis. 
• Diagnosing Vitamin E Deficiency: During scenarios wherein the patient exhibits symptoms of a Vitamin E deficiency like muscle weakness, vision impairments, difficulties in motor coordination, etc., the practitioner may request a Vitamin E test to diagnose and possibly recommend supplements. 
• Adjusting Doses or Stopping Vitamin E Supplementation: When the patient self-administers vitamin E supplements and experiences symptoms of excess vitamin E like nausea, fatigue, and diarrhea, a practitioner may request a test. The results will be used to confirm if the levels of Vitamin E are elevated and if ingesting the supplement should be stopped or its doses should be adjusted. 
• Treatment for Premature Babies: Premature infants born before the 37th week of pregnancy are usually recommended to undergo a Vitamin E test since they often manifest vitamin E deficiency. The test results help prevent the onset of any complications if the baby has lower than normal Vitamin E levels. 

What do the results mean?

Although it’s highly encouraged that a practitioner considers multiple factors before writing down their analysis and interpretation on the free Vitamin E test template, if they need a general idea of what the levels mean, keep reading below. 

Normal Levels

Their desired Vitamin E (Tocopherol) level range is between 5.5 to 25.1 mg/L. If the patient’s Vitamin E levels fall within the range, they have appropriate levels of vitamin E in their body. Do note that the provided level range may vary from one laboratory to another. 

Low Vitamin E Levels: 

If the patient’s Vitamin E levels are below the lower limit of the provided range, it signifies a deficiency in Vitamin E, which may be the cause of inadequate dietary intake or a condition that prevents adequate absorption. 

High Vitamin E Levels

Meanwhile, suppose the patient’s Vitamin E levels are higher than the upper limit of the provided range. In that case, it indicates excessive intake, typically due to consuming too many Vitamin E supplements, which may cause hemorrhagic strokes or increase the risk of a bleeding disorder. In this case, the patient needs medical intervention as soon as possible.