Also called · tocopherol · antioxidant
What it is
Vitamin E (tocopherol) is a fat-soluble vitamin and a headline antioxidant nutrient.
Its job is preventing the unsaturated fatty acids in cell membranes from oxidising.
What it does
It moves in lockstep with omega-3
Fish oil is high in polyunsaturated fat, so it oxidises into lipid peroxides easily and consumes vitamin E in quantity. Every extra 1 g of fish oil per kg of food requires roughly 10 IU more vitamin E.
Raising omega-3 alone is a net loss
Adding an omega-3 supplement by itself pushes antioxidant defence in the wrong direction. Check whether the product includes vitamin E.
How to feed it
Already present in complete and balanced diets. Only consider adding more when you are separately feeding fish oil or omega-3.
Fat-soluble, so feed it with a meal.
What to watch for
Unlike water-soluble vitamins, the excess is not excreted — it builds up in the body. Do not stack multiple products containing it.
Concerns this ingredient relates to
General nutrition information. It does not replace a diagnosis or a prescription. If your animal has a medical condition or is on medication, talk to your veterinarian first.