AUSTRALIAN
NATUROPATHIC NETWORK
Serving
the community since 1998
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Departments » Nutrition » Vitamins » Vitamin E |
Note - the monographs are provided for educational purposes only, and are not to be used for self-medication.
A review of some papers on Vitamin E
| Vitamin | E (Tocopherol) | ||||||
| Conditions Used For | Heart
Disease (Anticoagulant, Vasodilator, Antioxidant)
Aging (Retards cellular and mental aging) Fatigue Wound Healing Cancer Baldness and dandruff |
||||||
| Synergists | Vitamin
C (reduces oxidation),, A, K, Folic Acid, B2, B6, B12
Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Manganese Cysteine |
||||||
| Antagonists | Iron | ||||||
| Optimum Time | After
meals
Note: Start on 100IU then increase gradually over two months |
||||||
| Food Sources | Wheat germ oil | Sunflower Seeds | Almonds | Wheat Germ | Olive oil | ||
| Practitioner Products | Metagenics
& Eagle
Water Dispersible 500IU E |
Nutrisearch
Bioenhanced Natural Vitamin E Capsules (250IU) |
Metagenics
E-Mycel Drops (Micellised vitamin E as drops) |
||||
| Justification | Useful
where high dose is required.
High absorption owing to water miscible form. Convenient as capsule. |
Between
100-250IU found to be best for CV disease.
High absorption owing to form. Convenient as capsule. |
Enables
greater control over dosage. 1ml = 100IU.
Micellised form improves absorption. Great for ramping up intake. |
||||
| Prescription
Range
Super nutrition for E is between 100-800IUs per day. 100 – 250 IU optimum for CV disease |
One capsule provides 500iu. | One capsule provides 250IU - optimal for CV disease. | 1ml provides 100IU – but this can be controlled by patient. | ||||
| Contraindications | Patients
on anticoagulant and antihypertensive medication should be
monitored.
Lower dose of Vitamin E is indicated prior to surgery. |
Do
not give more than 250IU/day to patients with a history of rheumatic
heart disease.
Increased absorption of this product over standard oil based Vitamin E or synthetic forms is significant, hence less should be administered. |
Patients
on anticoagulant and antihypertensive medication should be
monitored.
Lower dose of Vitamin E is indicated prior to surgery. |
||||
| Practical Considerations | 60
Capsules
Should be stored below 25C |
To
be taken in glass of water.
Measurement of dosage may be problem. Compliance may be issue with added complexity. Should be stored below 25C. |
|||||
| Over-the-Counter | Blackmores - Bio Enhanced Vitamin E products | ||||||
| Justification | Water
miscible base for better absorption
Available as 100IU and 250IU capsules which allows patient to ramp up dosage Both are within ideal range for CV disease. |
||||||
A review of some papers on Vitamin E
Vitamin E and Breast Cancer: a review
Nutr Cancer 1997;27(2):109-117
This article was basically an overview of the relationship between breast cancer and the use of vitamin E to fight against it.
Since breast cancer is a killer of approximately one-third of cancer -related deaths in America, prevention through the modification of diet has become a major focus in clinical research. The article examines the use of vitamin E as a strong antioxidant to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. It compares the clinical studies performed on animals which had good results, to that of conflicting epidemiological studies.
In summary, the paper is a genuine review which looks at various clinical studies and discusses possible further investigations.
Protective role of vitamin E in biological systems.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1991. Apr;53(4 Suppl):1050S-1055S
This article provides a good overview of the excellent ability of vitamin E to prevent\minimise free radical damage in the body. It looks at current research on vitamin E’s protective role and it’s role in specific diseases and lifestyles associated with free radical damage. The paper stresses that further research needs to be done but in the mean time there is sufficient evidence that an adequate intake of vitamin E and other antioxidants can provide protection.
Will the "good fairies" please prove to us that vitamin E lessens human degenerative disease ?
Free Radical Research 1997.Nov;27(5):511-532
The first thing that attracted me to this article was the name. Then I read that the research came out of Guy’s Hospital in the UK and I knew it would be reputable.
As it turned out, the article is very comprehensive. It is relevant to our studies because of it’s emphasis on diet and the uptake of the vitamin E through our food. The article covers the areas of disease associated with free-radical damage and how it occurs and how diseases are lower in populations where the diet contains high levels of antioxidants. It also examines that by either increasing our dietary intake of vitamin E or by supplementing, we can vastly reduce the possibility of free radical damage.
Effects of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene supplements on cancer incidence in the alpha-Tocopherol Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1995 Dec;62(6 Suppl):1427S-1430S
This article was a clinical case study investigating the effects of vitamin E and beta-carotene in cancer prevention. The trial was a placebo-controlled, randomised intervention trial testing the hypothesis that beta-carotene and vitamin E supplements prevent lung and other cancers.
The trial provided various interesting outcomes, notably, the group that received just vitamin E had more cancers of the stomach but less prostate and colorectum cancers compared to the group not receiving vitamin E.
Like most research programmes, various conclusions seem to arise but, it is interesting reading.
Prostate cancer and supplementation with alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene: incidence and mortality in a controlled trial.
Journal of National Cancer Institute 1998 Mar 18;90(6):440-446.
I found this study most interesting, mainly for the result that it produced.
The study used a reasonably large group of 29133 male smokers aged 50-69 years, who received vitamin E (50mg), beta-carotene (20mg), both agents or placebo, daily for 5-8 years.
The reduction in prostate cancer from the use of vitamin E was 32%. The reduction in prostate death from the use of vitamin E was 41%. The interesting fact that arose was that the use of beta-carotene actually increased the incidence of prostate cancer.
The obvious conclusion of the paper was that long term supplementation with vitamin E substantially reduced prostate cancer incidence and mortality in male smokers.
I found this article very interesting.