Allergic contact dermatitis from vitamin E: the experience at Mayo Clinic Arizona, 1987 to 2007.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin E, of which the most biologically active form is alpha-tocopherol, has become widely known for its antioxidant effects. It has been ingested or applied topically for purported anti-aging effects and for cosmetic enhancement.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the incidence of allergic contact dermatitis from vitamin E has increased in recent years.


METHODS
With the approval of the Mayo Clinic institutional review board, we retrospectively analyzed patch-test data from patients tested from June 1987 through December 2007.


RESULTS
A total of 2,950 patients were patch-tested during this period, and 18 patients (0.61%) had positive reactions to alpha-tocopherol; 6 (0.53%) of 1,136 patients tested from June 1987 through December 1997 had positive results, and 12 (0.66%) of 1,814 patients tested from January 1998 through December 2007 had positive results (p = .69).


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin E appears to be a relatively rare contact allergen in our experience.
Adams
Alison K
AK
Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA.
Connolly
Suzanne M
SM
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001130:Arizona / Q000453:epidemiology; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E