What's the controversy with vitamin E?

Recent scientific studies have called into question the benefits of vitamin E to prevent certain diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, and even found that too much vitamin E may be harmful. With such conflicting evidence, is vitamin E still the wonder vitamin that we've been lead to believe? Is vitamin E still safe to take? Let's have a fuller look at the available evidence.

Vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin with antioxidant properties, is an important nutrient for maintaining good health. In food, vitamin E is commonly found in wheat germ oil, corn oil, peanuts, nuts such as hazelnuts and almonds as well as sunflower seeds, spinach, broccoli, kiwi, and mango. On nutrition labels, the technical names for vitamin E are often used: tocopherol or tocotrienol.

As an antioxidant, expectations for vitamin E are high. It's considered a powerhouse that works within the body scavenging free radicals (by-products produced by the body) that can cause cellular damage at the molecular level. It is for this reason that many people use vitamin E supplements, often in large doses, believing it will prevent certain diseases, such as heart disease and cancer.

What does the research say?
If you're wondering if vitamin E is worth taking, you're not alone. There is controversy over the role vitamin E can play in preventing heart disease and cancer, two of the leading causes of death today.

Atherosclerosis, also called "hardening of the arteries," increases the risk of heart attack or stroke due to fatty deposits forming within the blood vessels. Unfortunately, heart disease studies aimed at establishing whether vitamin E slows down atherosclerosis are inconclusive, so there's no support for regular use of vitamin E for this. Another large clinical trial studying women's health issues also concluded that taking high doses of naturally sourced vitamin E, 600 IU every other day in this case, didn't produce any decrease in cardiovascular problems or cancer.

In another large, well-known clinical trial, which tested people with vascular problems as well as other conditions, researchers concluded that long-term use of 400 IU of vitamin E on a daily basis did not prevent cancer or cardiovascular problems. Surprisingly, researchers found it may actually increase the risk of heart failure.

Even though at present there appears to be unclear and conflicting scientific evidence as to the benefits and risks associated with using high doses of vitamin E, don't lose hope. There is currently scientific research underway to look at the effects of vitamin E in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, preeclampsia, and respiratory infections. As well, keep in mind that vitamin E is essential to normal growth and good health when taken in recommended amounts.

According to Health Canada, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin E is 22 IU of natural source vitamin E (33 IU for synthetic sources) for people 14 years of age and older. This RDA is also the same during pregnancy, but increases slightly for breast-feeding women, who need 28 IU of natural source vitamin E or 42 IU of synthetic source vitamin E.

What's the bottom line on Vitamin E?
Factors such as your age, other medical conditions you may have, and your medical history can play a role in whether high doses of vitamin E may be harmful. So, before you start taking vitamin E supplements, or if you're wondering what to do if you're already taking them, get professional advice. Talk to your doctor or Shoppers Drug Mart Pharmacist about whether vitamin E is right for you.

Vitamin E supplementation is usually only required in cases of vitamin E deficiency, which is rare in humans. Since vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, deficiencies may occur in people with conditions that cause fat to be poorly absorbed into the body, such as Crohn's disease. There is also a very rare genetic disorder that leads to vitamin E deficiency because of poor fat absorption. People who have had a stroke or who take medications to "thin" their blood may be advised to avoid vitamin E, as it can interfere with the effectiveness of their medications and increase the risk of bleeding.

Talk to a Shoppers Drug Mart Pharmacist before you purchase any natural health product, including vitamin and mineral supplements, and always let your Shoppers Drug Mart Pharmacist and doctor know of any that your are currently taking. Your Shoppers Drug Mart Pharmacist can provide valuable information taking into account your medical conditions as well as any potential interactions these natural health products may have with other medications you're taking. Don't hesitate to ask questions - your Shoppers Drug Mart Pharmacist is there to help.