FAVORITE HEALTH QUOTE

On women's health: 

"By adolescence, a great many young girls have come to believe that their bodies are the problem." -

-John MacDougall, M.D.

3430-D Anderson Hwy., Powhatan, VA  23139

Ph: (804) 598-5352  www.herbalconsultant.com

DECEMBER 2007 NEWSLETTER

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VITAMIN LESSON: VITAMIN E 

      Vitamin E was discovered when researchers found that a component in vegetable oil was necessary for reproduction in rats. They named this factor tocopherol, which means “to bring forth offspring.” 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. It is a fat-soluble vitamin so larger doses are stored in our bodies for long periods of time. Vegetable oils, nuts, wheat germ, whole grains, liver, egg yolks, seeds, and green leafy vegetables are the main dietary sources of vitamin E.

     There are scores of vitamin E studies that show its benefits, including one in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2004 touting the benefits of vitamin E for preventing colds. 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, and it also protects against cancer by enhancing immune function. Some 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. Finally, vitamin E has shown to improve menstrual pain when taken 2 days before and continued for 3 days after the onset of menstruation and high-dose vitamin E (2000 i.u. daily) was shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.      

     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. The average dose most natural health practitioners recommend is 400 i.u. daily.

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