Synthetic Vitamin E Linked to Lung Cancer

[Guest guest]

One of our new members wanted to post this, but did not know how to do

so without including all of Mercola's advertisements. Thanks M.

 

(from Mercola.com)

 

Taking high doses of vitamin E supplements can actually increase the

risk of lung cancer.

 

A study of 77,000 people found consuming 400 milligrams of vitamin E

per day increased cancer risk by 28 percent. Smokers were at

particular risk.

 

An expert writing in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical

Care Medicine said that people should get their vitamins from fruit

and vegetables rather than supplements.

 

Vitamin E is known to be an antioxidant that protects cells from

molecules called free radicals. But in high doses, it may also act as

a pro-oxidant, causing oxidation and damage to cells.

 

Sources:

BBC News February 29, 2008

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine March 1,

2008; 177(5):524-30

 

Were You Aware… 80% of Your Immune System is Located in Your Digestive

System?

 

So, to effectively promote your immune system health, you need to look

no further than your intestinal tract. Probiotics (Greek " for life')

can be a great way to start promoting your digestive health and

overall health as well.

 

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

 

At first glance this article may appear to be nothing but another

attempt to assassinate a natural health-promoting agent. However,

there is some truth to these findings, which is why it's important to

weed through it to discern what's what.

 

Vitamin E: Healer or Killer? Two Sides of the Same Coin

 

There have been numerous studies pointing out the two sides of vitamin E.

 

On the one hand vitamin E has been found to have strong health

promoting influences by protecting against damaging free radicals –

because it is a very effective antioxidant for many fats.

 

On the other, it has been found that it can also increase, rather than

reduce, oxidation and speed up the onset of both heart disease and

cancer if you smoke and eat a diet high in polyunsaturated fat.

 

According to one such study, vitamin E can induce heart disease

through " reductive stress. " Reductive stress is a condition caused by

excessive levels of reduced glutathione, which is one of your body's

most powerful antioxidants. When your cells work properly, they

produce just the right amount of reduced glutathione, which is healthy

for your body. However, in some people, a mutated gene can disrupt the

fine balance, causing the cells to produce too much.

 

Additionally, vitamin E should not be given to certain brain injured

children, such as those with some types of autism. In these cases,

accumulations of long chain fats require oxidation to remove them,

which is impaired by vitamin E, actually making the disease worse.

 

On the other hand, one classic NEJM study found that vitamin E can

reduce your risk for heart disease by up to 80 percent.

 

Another study published in Life Extension Magazine came to the same

conclusion, stating that vitamin E reduces high levels of the

inflammation-causing proteins C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6, which

are likely contributors to heart disease. (Blood levels of both CRP

and IL-6 are often elevated in patients with heart disease, indicating

an increased risk for heart attack.)

 

And other studies have shown that vitamin E:

 

May lower risk of asthma and allergies

May help treat menstrual pain

Improves circulation in diabetics

Helps prevent prostate and breast cancers

Slows down cognitive decline

May help hot flashes

So as you can see, there's plenty of evidence for both sides of the

argument. Vitamin E may lower the risk of disease in some people, and

raise the risk in others.

 

But what's most likely at the heart of this discrepancy?

 

All Vitamin E are Not Created Equal

 

Ever since its discovery in 1922 there has been much discussion over

what type of vitamin E is best. Many do not know that the term

" vitamin E " actually refers to a family of at least eight fat-soluble

antioxidant compounds, divided into two groups of molecules:

tocopherols (which are considered the " true " vitamin E) and tocotrienols.

 

Each of the tocopherol and tocotrienol subfamilies contains four

different forms:

 

Alpha-

Beta-

Gamma-

Delta-

 

Each one of these subgroups has its own unique biological effects.

 

Ideally, vitamin E should be consumed in the broader family of mixed

natural tocopherols and tocotrienols, (also referred to as

full-spectrum vitamin E) to get the maximum benefits.

 

And there's the main problem: the vitamin E most often referred to and

sold in most stores is a synthetic form of the vitamin, which really

should NOT be used if you want to reap any of its health benefits.

 

You can tell what you're buying by carefully reading the label.

 

Natural vitamin E is always listed as the " d- " form

(d-alpha-tocopherol, d-beta-tocopherol, etc.)

Synthetic vitamin E is listed as " dl- " forms

When vitamin E is stabilized by adding either succinic acid or acetic

acid, the chemical name changes from tocopherol to tocopheryl (as in

d-alpha-tocopheryl succinate, for example).

 

Your body can easily distinguish between natural and synthetic

vitamins, and several studies have shown that natural vitamin E is

between two and three times as bioactive as the same amount of

synthetic vitamin E.

 

And that brings us to the best source of natural vitamins…

 

Food, Not a Supplement, is Your Best Source of Vitamin E

 

Free radicals are a natural byproduct of breathing; antioxidants such

as vitamin E mop up the excess, and leave the rest of the free

radicals to fulfill their other functions, which include things like

turning air and food into chemical energy, and aiding your immune

response by attacking foreign invaders and bacteria.

 

This fine balancing act can be easily tipped to the point of either

too much or too little. Eliminating or dramatically reducing free

radicals could actually lead to more problems than are solved.

 

The Goldilock's equation, meaning you need just the right amount to

achieve optimal health -- not too much and not too little, is the

answer here.

 

And your body can do a phenomenal job of self-regulating many of these

levels if you supply it with wholesome, healthy foods and dramatically

limit your intake of processed foods, which are loaded with artificial

chemicals.

 

Tocopherol and its subgroups are found in certain nuts and green leafy

vegetables. Sources of tocotrienols include palm oil, rice bran and

barley oils. However, many Americans do not get nearly enough of

dietary vitamin E due to their poor dietary choices.

 

So yes, vitamin E is a wonderful antioxidant with powerful health

benefits, but you need to make sure you're getting them from the right

sources -- from the food you eat. A diet rich in fresh vegetables and

nuts will usually supply you with the whole nutrients needed to walk

this fine line.

 

Always remember that not only are nuts and leafy greens rich in

vitamin E, they also contain hundreds of other natural chemicals that

create a synergistic effect where the total benefit is far greater

than the sum of its parts.

 

When buying vegetables, I strongly recommend you try to find locally

grown, organic produce, as they often contain greater concentrations

of vital nutrients.

 

Remember also that the Take Control of Your Health program, which

includes the entire program of eating the healthiest foods in all the

right proportions for your nutritional type, can help you solve most

of the problems with " too much " versus " too little " when it comes to

essential nutrients.

 

If you are not eating properly according to your nutritional type --

by far the most important step you can take to improve your health --

no supplement will " save " you.

[Guest guest]

I loved Mercola's answer to the charge. He's right on target.

 

Suz