Vitamin E Gamma:

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Vitamin E Offers Many Benefits - If You Take The Right Form

 

By Andreas M. Papas, Ph.D.

March 2003

 

" Popular Form of Vitamin E Doesn't Carry Key Benefits. Ask for Gamma. "

 

That was a major headline in the Wall Street Journal Oct. 16, 2002. This

headline followed a story in Woman's World two months earlier on the

role of vitamin E, and particularly tocotrienols, in reducing the risk

of breast cancer. The Ladies Home Journal and other national media have

scheduled similar stories on vitamin E.

 

Why the sudden interest? Vitamin E is the second-best selling vitamin in

the United States after multivitamins. People take the supplement for

many reasons: to slow down Alzheimer's; boost the immune system and slow

aging; reduce the damage to muscles from strenuous exercise; reduce

scars and breast cysts; improve fertility; smooth wrinkles; and relieve

arthritis. New research suggests it can even help prevent prostate

cancer and heart disease. But what really caused the headline above is

the emerging research, which demonstrated that we are missing many of

the benefits of vitamin E because we are taking the wrong form.

A little background will make this point clearer. Most vitamins consist

of a single compound. Not so for vitamin E. Eight different compounds

make up this vitamin family. In the technical jargon, they are called

tocopherols and tocotrienols. Our food contains all eight. Most

supplements, however, contain only one, alpha-tocopherol, because it was

thought that only this one was important. To make things worse, many

products, especially multivitamins, contain the synthetic form of

vitamin E, which the National Academy of Sciences says is only half as

potent as the natural form.

 

Emerging research shows that other members of the vitamin E family have

very important and unique functions. Only the complete number of

tocopherols plus tocotrienols can provide everything this vital nutrient

has to offer. This is the main point that needs to be stressed because

the benefits of the complete vitamin E are truly outstanding.

 

Recent research has focused on other members of the vitamin E family,

and the results have been enlightening. The spotlight has been mostly on

gamma-tocopherol and tocotrienols, and includes:

 

Tocotrienols show significant promise in fighting breast cancer;

 

Both gamma tocopherol and tocotrienols are the important forms for

maintaining a healthy heart;

 

Gamma tocopherol helps fight nitrogen radicals, a particularly vicious

form of harmful molecules that contribute to inflammation and chronic

diseases such as Alzheimer's; and

Gamma tocopherol shows the most promise for men in avoiding prostate

cancer. In a recent study published in the Journal of the National

Cancer Institute, men with the highest blood level of gamma-tocopherol

had a five-times lower incidence of prostate cancer.

 

Promising research continues. Along with fellow researchers at the

College of Medicine at East Tennessee State, I have been involved in

studies which suggest that gamma-tocopherol may help reduce the risk of

colon cancer. We are also evaluating the role of the natural vitamin E

family in cells that help support our immune system. In addition, the

National Institutes of Health are funding research on the role of

tocotrienols on crippling neurodegenerative diseases.

 

So what is the expert advice on vitamin E? Let me give you a quick

summary of my book, The Vitamin E Factor:

 

Only the complete vitamin E family of tocopherols plus tocotrienols

assures full benefit. Good food sources include vegetable oils, nuts,

grains, and legumes. Wheat germ and wheat germ oil are also excellent

sources.

 

Even opponents of supplements agree - we need more vitamin E than we can

get from our diet. People with special needs require supplementation of

the complete vitamin E family in order to obtain levels of tocopherols

and tocotrienols that are efficacious.

 

Choose products that contain the vitamin E family - natural tocopherols

plus tocotrienols. Read the label to make sure that amounts of the major

components are listed.

 

Consider which level may be appropriate for you. The 400/400 level (400

IU plus 400 mg of mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols) will meet the

needs of most people, especially those over the age of 40. Additionally,

special forms of vitamin E are recommended for people with special

needs. For example, high-gamma tocopherol vitamin E is ideal for people

with a family history of Alzheimer's, prostate cancer, and inflammation.

Tocotrienol-rich vitamin E is good for people at high risk for heart

disease, as well as women with a family history of breast cancer.

 

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Andreas M. Papas, Ph.D., is the author of The Vitamin E Factor and

editor of the scientific book Antioxidant Status, Diet, Nutrition and

Health. Dr. Papas is also president of Yasoo Health Inc., as well as

adjunct professor of the College of Medicine, East Tennessee State

University.