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Test Code LAB130 Vitamin E, Serum

Useful For

Assessing vitamin E status

 

Monitoring vitamin E supplementation or treatment

Method Name

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Reporting Name

Vitamin E, S

Specimen Type

Serum


Shipping Instructions


Ship specimen in amber vial to protect from light.



Specimen Required


Patient Preparation:

Fasting: 12 hours, required; infants should have specimen collected before next feeding

Supplies: Amber Frosted Tube, 5 mL (T915)

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Red top

Acceptable: Serum gel

Submission Container/Tube: Amber vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions: Within 2 hours of collection, centrifuge and aliquot serum into a light protected plastic vial.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.25 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 44 days LIGHT PROTECTED
  Frozen  44 days LIGHT PROTECTED
  Ambient  7 days LIGHT PROTECTED

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross lipemia Reject
Gross icterus OK

Clinical Information

Vitamin E is the generic term for two different groups of methylated phenol compounds with a chromane alcoholic core linked to poly-carbon chains (tocopherols and tocotrienols).

 

These vitamins are all free radical scavengers, with a-Tocopherol being the most potent one in humans, as most of the related compounds are not re-secreted by the liver, thus leading to much lower circulating concentrations.

 

Vitamin E deficiency is very rare and mostly seen in patients with extreme malabsorption of fat and in patients with abetalipoproteinemia, a rare inborn error of metabolism. Patients with these conditions may develop hemolytic anemia, peripheral neuropathy, myopathy, retinopathy, and immune deficiency.

 

There is a large body of scientific studies that indicates positive effects on outcomes of various diseases if regular Vitamin E supplementation is provided; however, several trials have shown evidence of increasing bleeding risks at high Vitamin E doses. Therefore, tables of tolerable doses in children and adults have been established, which should not be exceeded.

Reference Values

0-17 years: 3.8-18.4 mg/L

≥18 years: 5.5-17.0 mg/L

Interpretation

Vitamin E levels below the reference interval suggest deficiency. Conversely, Vitamin E concentrations significantly above the upper healthy reference population range might indicate that Vitamin E intake exceeds the tolerable upper daily intake level(s).

 

The rare occurrence of low Vitamin A and E levels might correlate with potential deficiency and investigation of potential fat malabsorptions should be considered.

Cautions

Testing of nonfasting specimens or the use of vitamin supplementation can result in elevated serum vitamin concentrations. Reference values were established using specimens from individuals who were fasting.

Clinical Reference

1. Sodi R, Taylor A. Vitamins and trace elements In: Rifai N, Horvath AR, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2020:466-487

2. Vitamin A and Carotenoids-Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Updated March 10, 2025. Accessed October 7, 2025. Available at https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/

3. Greaves RF, Woollard GA, Hoad KE, et al. Laboratory medicine best practice guideline: vitamins a, e and the carotenoids in blood. Clin Biochem Rev. 2014;35(2):81-113

4. Brigelius-Flohe R, Traber MG. Vitamin E: function and metabolism. FASEB J. 1999;13(10):1145-1155

5. Traber MG, Head B. Vitamin E: How much is enough, too much and why!. Free Radic Biol Med. 2021;177:212-225. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.10.028

6. Traber MG. Vitamin E inadequacy in humans: causes and consequences. Adv Nutr. 2014;(5):503-14. doi:10.3945/an.114.006254

Method Description

Deuterated vitamin E (d6-alpha-tocopherol) is added to serum as an internal standard. Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) and the deuterated internal standard are extracted from the specimens and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.(Unpublished Mayo method)

Report Available

3 to 5 days

Specimen Retention Time

14 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

84446

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
VITE Vitamin E, S 1823-4

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
2350 A-Tocopherol, Vitamin E 1823-4

NY State Approved

Yes

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a General Request (T239) with the specimen.