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DECEMBER 2004 NEWSLETTER

VITAMIN E – IS IT SAFE?

Recent reports in the news may have led you to believe that Vitamin E isn’t safe for anyone.  This assumption was based on a report that was published by researchers at Johns Hopkins University that said taking more 400mg or more of Vitamin E daily is dangerous to your health.  What the news reports didn’t tell you is the entire story. 

First, this research was not based on a new study.  The researchers went through old Vitamin E studies and picked the ones they wanted to use.  There are scores of Vitamin E studies that show its benefits, including one in the Journal of the American Medical Association earlier this year touting the benefits of Vitamin E for preventing colds!  Dr. Jeffrey Blumberg, associate director of Tufts University's Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging said, “These investigators selected 19 specific studies to analyze. In doing so, they also selected not to employ a vast number of studies that show no harm from vitamin E and a great deal of benefit." Next, the New York Times said, “Most of the patients were elderly people suffering from chronic illnesses, so the relevance to younger and healthier people is uncertain.”  Finally, the study received a large grant from Roche Laboratories, a pharmaceutical company that manufactures prescription drugs.  It is always important to investigate the funding for any study to see if the results are biased in any way.

Vitamin E has been used safely and responsibly by millions of people for many years.  Its benefits include cardiovascular health (it’s a natural blood-thinner), support for fibrocystic breast disease, antioxidant action, skin health and help for aging brain functions.   Vegetable oils, nuts, and green leafy vegetables are the main dietary sources of vitamin E.  It is a fat-soluble vitamin however, so larger doses are stored in our bodies for long periods of time.

Observational studies have associated lower rates of heart disease with higher vitamin E intake.  A study of approximately 90,000 nurses suggested that the incidence of heart disease was 30% to 40% lower among nurses with the highest intake of vitamin E from diet and supplements.  Antioxidants such as vitamin E help protect against the damaging effects of free radicals, which may contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer.  It also may protect against the development of cancers by enhancing immune function.  Other observational studies have found that lens clarity, which is used to diagnose cataracts, was better in regular users of vitamin E supplements and in persons with higher blood levels of vitamin E, but this wasn’t true for smokers.   Alpha-tocopherol is the most active form of vitamin E in humans, and is a powerful biological antioxidant.  The natural form of Vitamin E has been shown to work much better than synthetic E.  Upper limits for healthy individuals have been set by the National Institutes of Health at 1,000 i.u. daily.  People on blood-thinning medications and those with chronic diseases should limit Vitamin E intake to no more than 200 i.u. daily unless directed by a healthcare professional.

As always, call someone with nutritional training if you have any questions or concerns.

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