Should You Still Take Vitamin E?
For: Ask the Experts, July 2003
The Wellness Letter has recommended vitamin
E supplements since 1994, in the belief that they are safe and may
reduce the risk of heart disease,
cancer, and other disorders. Two years ago, after reviewing the latest
research, much of which had yielded disappointing or confusing results,
we softened our endorsement of E supplements and lowered our recommendation
to 200 to 400 IU a day.
Since then, most studies on E have resulted in more letdowns. Here are
a few:
• In November a study found that vitamin E (800 IU a day), as well as vitamin C and hormone therapy, did not help postmenopausal women with coronary artery disease (CAD). In fact, hormone therapy actually worsened CAD, as other studies have shown. The vitamins also seemed to make matters worse, though this result was not "statistically significant" and could be, according to the researchers, a "chance finding."
• In a study we discussed in March 2002, antioxidant supplements, including vitamin E, reduced the beneficial effect of high-dose niacin in people with undesirable cholesterol levels, who were also taking a cholesterol-lowering "statin" drug.
• While some studies have suggested that vitamin E may help boost the immune response, a Dutch study of people over 60 found that those taking E tended to get more colds and other respiratory infections than those taking a placebo.
• In another study healthy people who took vitamin E for three years had less oxidized LDL ("bad") cholesterol in their blood. That’s supposed to protect them against CAD, but they were just as likely to develop atherosclerosis as people taking a placebo.
• Several studies suggested that foods rich in vitamin E—but not E supplements—may lower the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
• An Australian study found that vitamin E did not prevent macular degeneration or slow its progression. Earlier research suggested it may help.
I don’t take vitamin E, but some other members of our Editorial Board do. One stopped taking E after she read the first study listed above. So what should you do? If you’re a postmenopausal woman with coronary artery disease, or are taking high-dose niacin, I think you should not take E supplements. For everyone else, it’s a matter of choice. There’s no solid evidence of harm, and some benefits may yet pan out. Other important studies on E are still underway.
Meanwhile, eat foods rich in E—nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, whole grains, and leafy greens. The first three are high in healthy fats but also calories, so don’t go overboard.
UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, February 2003