Unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E requirements

There is a linear relationship between vitamin E requirements and consumption of unsaturated fatty acids, but it applies to a limited range of quantities only. Therefore it cannot be determined by calculations based on a certain factor. Recommendations of vitamin E intake must consider a basal minimum requirement, to which an extra requirement may be added. Using a quotient of the amounts of vitamin E and those of unsaturated fatty acids exclusively is not justifiable. A ratio of 0.6 mg alpha-tocopherol equivalents (alpha-TE) per gram of dienoic acid or polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is too high. This applies to both recommendations of vitamin E intake and calculations of the net vitamin E content of foods. In both cases, according to our present knowledge, intake of fatty acids should not be taken into account. In the Federal Republic of Germany the mean vitamin E/PUFA quotient of food is around 1.0 mg alpha-TE/g according to the National Consumption Study.