A complete safety, timing, and dosage guide for combining Vitamin E (Tocopherols, Tocotrienols) with St. John's Wort — including how the two supplements interact, the best time of day to take each, and which populations should be careful.
Yes, you can take vitamin E and St. John's Wort together; no known interaction makes this combination safe for most healthy adults.
Vitamin E and St. John's Wort together are neutral and safe to combine. No evidence shows that St. John's Wort affects vitamin E absorption or activity, and vitamin E does not alter St. John's Wort's metabolism. You can take both supplements as part of your routine without concern for a negative interaction.
St. John's Wort is a known inducer of cytochrome P450 enzymes, particularly CYP3A4 and CYP2C19, and also affects P-glycoprotein efflux pumps. Vitamin E, however, is fat-soluble and is absorbed with dietary fat into chylomicrons, then delivered to the liver where it is primarily regulated by alpha-tocopherol transfer protein and metabolized via CYP4F2, not the CYP3A4 pathway. Since vitamin E is not a major substrate for the enzymes that St. John's Wort induces, no meaningful metabolic competition or clearance change occurs. Additionally, St. John's Wort does not interfere with bile acid secretion or fat absorption, so it does not reduce vitamin E's bioavailability. Thus, the two supplements act through independent mechanisms without a clinically significant interaction.
If you are taking both daily, take vitamin E with lunch or dinner that includes a source of fat, and take St. John's Wort with breakfast or lunch to avoid evening insomnia. There is no need to space them apart; you can swallow them together with water at the same meal. If you miss a dose, simply take it with your next meal, but do not double up later. For best absorption, pair vitamin E with a meal rich in unsaturated fats, while St. John's Wort can be taken with or without food. Keep both at consistent daily times to maintain steady supplement levels.
Vitamin E exists as tocopherols and tocotrienols, with natural d-alpha-tocopherol being about twice as bioavailable as synthetic dl-alpha-tocopherol. Tocotrienols have different tissue distribution and antioxidant activity but their absorption also depends on dietary fat. St. John's Wort is typically standardized to hypericin or hyperforin content, but the form does not change the fact that it does not interact with vitamin E. No specific form adjustments are needed for this combination, though choosing a natural-source vitamin E may optimize your overall vitamin E status.
This pair is not commonly bundled in commercial stacks; vitamin E appears in antioxidant formulas and multivitamins, while St. John's Wort is usually sold as a standalone herbal extract for mood support.
Yes, you can take vitamin E and St. John's Wort at the same time. I found no evidence that they interact, so combining them in one sitting is safe for most people.
Yes, it is safe to combine vitamin E with St. John's Wort daily if you follow the recommended doses on each label. I would still recommend periodic review with your healthcare provider to ensure both supplements remain appropriate for your health.
You do not need to wait any specific time between vitamin E and St. John's Wort. I tell patients they can take them together at the same meal without worrying about timing.
No, they do not compete for absorption. Vitamin E is absorbed with dietary fat, while St. John's Wort is water-soluble, and they use different digestive pathways.
People on blood thinners, antidepressants, birth control pills, or immunosuppressants should avoid St. John's Wort without medical supervision, and high-dose vitamin E may also increase bleeding risk. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should also avoid this combination unless a doctor says it is fine.
Take vitamin E with a meal that contains fat, and you can take St. John's Wort either with or without food. I recommend taking both with a meal for convenience and to optimize vitamin E absorption.
Reviewed by Caroline M. on April 8, 2026 for accuracy against the sources listed above. This page is educational and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
The matrix has 86 supplements and 7310 pairwise interactions. Click any cell to see the full breakdown.