Vitamin E's Heart Benefits Questioned

MIAMI--While observational epidemiological studies have shown vitamin E ingestion reduces cardiovascular risk factors, supplementation with alpha-tocopherol (the isolated vitamin E isomer most commonly found in supplements) may not benefit heart health, according to a research review published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (164:1552-6, 2004) (http://archinte.ama-assn.org). Miami-based researchers, headed by Rachel S. Eidelman, M.D., from the Agaston Research Institute, reviewed data from seven large-scale, randomized trials on the effectiveness of alpha-tocopherol in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease.

According to the researchers, six of the seven trials showed no significant effect of vitamin E on cardiovascular disease, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke or cardiovascular death. They concluded there is a lack of scientific support for the claim that vitamin E supports heart health, and further cautioned, "The use of agents of proven lack of benefit, especially those easily available over the counter, may contribute to underuse of agents of proven benefit and failure to adopt healthy lifestyles."

W.H. Leong, vice president of Carotech Inc., developed a technical communication in response to the vitamin E study. "Perhaps it is time for us to look beyond alpha-tocopherol, the form of vitamin E that was used in these seven clinical studies," he said. "Obtaining the optimum and full benefits of vitamin E intake may not be a matter of favoring alpha or gamma, but getting a combination of the tocopherols and tocotrienols--the full spectrum vitamin E complex as found in nature."

Leong explained tocopherols and tocotrienols are distinguished by their side chains: tocopherol has a saturated phytyl tail while tocotrienol has an unsaturated isoprenoid tail. "In nature, most plants and oils contain naturally a mixture of the vitamin E isomers," Leong said. "It is important to select a vitamin E supplement that contains all eight forms of vitamin E (d-mixed tocopherols and d-mixed tocotrienols) for overall and optimum health benefits. "Carotech is the supplier of Tocomin palm tocotrienol complex that provides all four isomers of tocotrienols. The complete technical communication and further details on tocotrienols are available online (www.tocotrienol.org).