VITAMIN E- NOT THE ENEMY!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Dear Friend,

 

As you've probably heard, researchers at Johns Hopkins University

released a study this week which claims that 400 IU or more of

vitamin E can increase the risk of death and should be avoided. As a

complementary physician, I was angry and disappointed that such a

study was released to the public-causing unnecessary fear and concern

among the millions of people using this safe, incredibly useful

supplement to improve their health.

 

 

My Analysis of the Study

 

 

I'm skeptical of any meta-analysis using only 19 studies to make

sweeping claims that vitamin E is unsafe and shouldn't be used,

especially when thousands of research studies done over more than

three generations have attested to its great health benefits and

safety. Historically, vitamin E is one of the longest used

supplements, with research studies dating back to the 1930s. In fact,

there have been more than 6,000 studies alone that show

cardiovascular benefit from vitamin E supplementation. There are many

more research studies touting vitamin E's benefits and safety in

treating many other health concerns-dermatological problems, hot

flashes, osteoarthritis, and much more.

 

 

In the case of this particular study, there's just no logic to

justify the conclusion. First of all, the high dosage trials were

often small and were performed in patients with chronic diseases, who

were at greater risk for mortality anyway. Not to mention, half the

people in this study were using other vitamins and minerals in

addition to vitamin E. I have significant doubts about the

researchers' ability to accurately extrapolate that vitamin E was the

culprit, when patients were using vitamin E combined with other

vitamins and minerals. Imagine-if researchers made such sweeping

generalizations about prescription drugs, there wouldn't be any left

on the market! And in reality, patients have had countless more

problems caused by prescription drugs than with vitamin E-myself

included.

 

 

This study (which, by the way, was funded in part by a pharmaceutical

company) is just another example of the traditional medical

establishment and the mainstream media trying to discredit the

benefits and safety of nutritional supplements-a pattern that I have

now seen for 30 years. I agree with the Council for Responsible

Medicine's recently published response to this study, which you can

read here.

 

 

Personally Speaking

 

 

Vitamin E is the first nutrient I used on myself back in 1974 with

great benefits-and it's had a long history of safety and

effectiveness. I continue to use it with confidence. Of the thousands

of patients I've seen while in practice, I've recommended vitamin E

to nearly all of them, and have very rarely seen even the slightest

side effect.

 

 

In general, I recommend that healthy women take 600-1,600 IU of

natural vitamin E per day.

 

 

Wishing you the best of health,

 

 

Susan M. Lark, M.D.