Effects of 4 grade levels of dietary α-tocopherol (37.82, 115.64, 349.42 and 522.56 mg kg⁻¹ diet) on ovarian maturation and reproductive performance of broodstock shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei were investigated. The α-tocopherol concentrations in hepatopancreas, ovaries, eggs and muscle of female shrimp increased significantly as dietary α-tocopherol levels increased. Survival, spermatophore weight, sperm count, gonadosomatic index (GSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI), fecundity and egg diameter were not significantly affected by dietary α-tocopherol levels. Average daily spawns, hatching rate and fertilization rate significantly increased as dietary α-tocopherol levels increased. Results of this study confirmed the importance of supplementation of α-tocopherol to broodstock diets fed to L. vannamei, and suggested that at least 350 mg α-tocopherol kg⁻¹ of diet was needed to achieve significantly better ovarian maturation and reproductive performance.