Extra Vitamin E: No Benefit, Maybe Harm

            For many years researchers believed that Vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin with antioxidant properties, would help prevent heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and even slow the aging process.  It was hypothesized by researches that Vitamin E’s health benefits were possible by protecting human cells from various free radicals that can be damaging to tissues and cells.  Small amounts of Vitamin E commonly found in foods and multivitamins are harmless, but recent studies have suggested that the high doses of Vitamin E commonly found in supplements (i.e. 400 IU) may do more harm than good.  Recent randomized, controlled clinical trials have been able to shed some light on the benefits and risks of taking Vitamin E.
 
            The first major blow to Vitamin E came in 2005 after the results of the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation trials were released.  This study involved 10,000 patients aged 55 or older who took 400 IU of Vitamin E once daily for 7 years.  The study found that those taking Vitamin E were more likely to develop heart disease.  A more recent clinical trial completed in November 2008 showed similar results.  In it, 14,641 men were followed for up to eight years who took 400 IU of Vitamin E.  No benefit on the development cardiovascular disease was found.

            In addition, the Heart Outcomes trial also looked into the effect of Vitamin E supplementation on cancer risk.  During the seven year follow-up period no difference in cancer diagnoses or deaths was found.  The SELECT trial (selenium and vitamin E cancer prevention trial) enrolled 35,533 men from North America and followed them for five years.  No benefit was found, but a “statistically nonsignificant” increased risk of prostate cancer was noted in the group taking 400 IU of Vitamin E.  Both groups who took Selenium and Vitamin E alone were found to have no benefit on the incidence of cancer.

            Last year, the Cochrane Collaboration published a review article of all studies investigating Vitamin E’s effects on Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).  No benefit was found, even with doses as high as 2,000 IU per day.

            In conclusion, Vitamin E is not a magical pill that can prevent disease.  The truth is that health claims by supplement companies and their manufacturing practices are not reviewed by the FDA.  In addition, most are not backed by substantial clinical research looking into the efficacy of their products.  Therefore, people starting a supplement regimen should exercise caution and be aware of the possible harmful effects.

Brody, Jane E.  Extra Vitamin E: No Benefit, Maybe Harm.  The New York Times. March 23rd, 2009. Available at www.nytimes.com

Sean Lamont, Pharm. D. Candidate 2009