New Vitamin E Research Reviewed at ACN Conference

New Vitamin E Research Reviewed at ACN Conference

CHARLESTON, N.C.--The latest in vitamin E research dominated adietary supplement symposium held at the American College of Nutrition's (ACN's)46th Annual Meeting here. The symposium was funded by an unrestrictededucational grant from Pharmavite (www.naturemade.com)and featured a panel of nutrition experts assembled to discuss safety profilesof various supplements. The bulk of the discussion focused on vitamin E,particularly on the vitamin's safety profile and antioxidant benefits assupported by recent peer-reviewed clinical trials and reviews.

Papers supporting the safety of vitamin E included a research review fromTufts University, which found no "consistent or compelling" evidencefrom epidemiological literature that use of vitamin E taken at commonly consumeddoses is associated with higher risks of adverse events in generally healthyindividuals; as well as data from mice and rat studies conducted at the LinusPauling Institute, which found plasma and tissue vitamin E (as alpha-tocopherol)are maintained within a narrow range by the liver, inhibiting overdose.

"It is important to understand what vitamin E is doing because it hassuch good benefits, especially for women," said Maret Traber, Ph.D.,symposium participant. "For example, the Women's Health Study has come outwith some positive findings on vitamin E. It found that women at greatest riskfor heart disease, the subgroup of those over age 65, were the ones who had thegreatest benefit. Women over age 65 taking vitamin E supplements had a49-percent decrease in cardiovascular death."