Vitamin E: Protecting Babies from Food Allergies
Mar 20, 2025•12 min
Episode description
Story at-a-glance
- Vitamin E supports a healthy pregnancy — Vitamin E intake during pregnancy has been shown to reduce the risk of food allergies in newborns by stabilizing immune responses and lowering histamine levels
- Vitamin E alters histamine production — Researchers found that α-tocopherol, a specific form of vitamin E, prevented severe allergic reactions by reducing the release of histamine, the chemical responsible for swelling, itching and anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction)
- Infants get the benefits of vitamin E immediately — Babies with genetic skin barrier weaknesses, such as those linked to eczema, are more likely to develop food allergies, but vitamin E helps reinforce immune regulation and reduce their risk
- Vitamin E doesn’t interfere with your body’s natural processes — Vitamin E supplementation during pregnancy influenced newborn immune responses without suppressing other necessary immune functions, meaning it helps prevent allergies without weakening overall immunity
- Simple dietary changes have big impact — Eating more pasture-raised eggs, grass fed beef liver, avocados, and wild-caught fish will provide the necessary levels of vitamin E to support immune balance in both mother and baby