Does Vitamin E Increase Your Risk of Heart Failure?

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http://www.mercola.com/2005/mar/30/vitamin_e_cancer.htm

 

Does Vitamin E Increase Your Risk of Heart Failure?

 

Vitamin E

 

Mega doses of vitamin E don't affect the risk of heart disease or

cancer, but may increase the risk of heart failure, researchers say.

After conducting the seven-year study of close to 4,000 patients, they

say there's no reason for people to take high-dose vitamin E supplements.

 

Some 22 percent of adults over the age of 55 take vitamin E

supplements, as studies in the '90s showed it may have protective

heart benefits. More recent studies have not found the same results,

and this study found high-dose vitamin E might actually increase the

risk of heart failure, which occurs when the heart muscle is unable to

pump blood effectively.

 

It was found that 14.7 percent of patients taking high-dose vitamin E

supplements (400 international units (IU)) suffered from heart failure

after seven years, compared to 12.6 percent of those taking placebos.

 

Multivitamins generally contain only 30 IU of vitamin E, while

individual supplements can contain over 400 units. Researchers said

the small amount of the vitamin in a multivitamin poses little risk,

and other studies have suggested that low doses may actually be

beneficial to Alzheimer's disease, age-related macular degeneration

and cataracts.

 

Studies are underway to determine whether vitamin E may prevent

specific types of tumors (if not cancer overall) and whether vitamin E

taken together with selenium prevents prostate cancer. In conclusion,

researchers say that a pill to prevent cancer and heart disease just

doesn't exist--instead, diet, exercise and body weight must be given

attention.

 

Journal of the American Medical Association March 16,

2005;293(11):1338-1347

 

USA Today March 16, 2005

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

 

Vitamin E is one of the most popular supplements in America, which is

why when studies come out with negative results that conflict with

previous positive findings, the media and the public generally widely

promote the new findings.

 

That said, it's important to note that in this particular study,

although an increased risk of heart failure was found with high-dose

vitamin E, it was only a slight increase (14.7 percent for those

taking vitamin E versus 12.7 percent for those taking placebo). Also,

the lead researcher recommended additional research be done to ensure

the connection between heart failure and vitamin E was indeed real.

 

This study is one terrific example of why you benefit from reading

this newsletter. The conventional paradigm will do everything in its

power to seek to convince you that newer natural methods of treatment

are flawed and you should cling to the outdated expensive current

conventional paradigm. This is the very paradigm that is robbing your

economic future, killing your friends and family and destroying your

health.

 

Sounds like harsh claims but I really believe this is true. Let me

show you how this study that was widely publicized in the media is

flawed beyond belief. Unless you to JAMA or look it up in a

medical library you would not know why. You have to read the methods

section of the study to discover why this study is flawed, and

unfortunately JAMA does not make the full text of this article

available for free on line.

 

If you carefully read the methods section you will find the following:

 

" The Hope trial evaluated ramipril vs placebo and vitamin E (400

IS/d) "

 

Please note that not one word is mentioned about vitamin E specifics.

These investigators ignored two major and important facts about

vitamin E supplementation. One is the difference between synthetic and

natural vitamin E and then the type of tocopherol involved. Most

likely these patients were given synthtetic dl-alpha tocopherol.

 

Now please understand that I am not standing on a soapbox saying

everyone should take vitamin E. I believe it is a good supplement for

many and it is one of the few supplements that I take intermittently,

but I could make an equally strong arguement not to take it. The issue

is not about taking vitamin E but about the conventional paradigm

ignorantly blasting natural approaches and seeking to give them a

negative PR media spin.

 

As I have mentioned many times in this newsletter, if you are going to

take vitamin E you really do want to avoid synthetic dl-alpha

tocopherol. Ideally you would use a natural type that consisted of

mixed tocopherols that included gamma tocohperol gamma-tocopherol. If

you want to improve the vitamin E you can use a brand that has

tocotrienols.

 

If you're not getting enough vitamin E and want to supplement your

diet, I recommend you do your homework and find a high-quality brand

that contains natural (not synthetic) forms of vitamin E.

 

 

 

Related Articles:

 

Controversy Surrounds Vitamin E Risks

 

Are You Taking the Right Form of Vitamin E?

 

Are You Taking the Best Type of Vitamin E?

 

What are Tocotrienols, and Why do You Need Them?

 

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