"Vitamin E levels linked to mortality risk", Reuters UK, November 23,
2006,
Link:
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-11-23T002349Z_01_PAR301405_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-VITAMIN-E-DC.XML&WTmodLoc=SciHealth-C1-Headline-9

A large new study suggests vitamin E may help prevent death from cancer
and heart disease in middle-aged men who smoke, contradicting the
findings of some previous studies on the subject.

In a study of 29,092 Finnish men in their 50s and 60s who were smokers,
those with the highest concentrations of the vitamin E in their blood
at the study's outset were the least likely to die during the follow-up
period, which lasted up to 19 years, Dr. Margaret E. Wright of the
National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland and colleagues report.

There are a number of mechanisms by which vitamin E, also known as
alpha-tocopherol, might promote health, Wright and her team note in the
current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. For
example, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, while it also boosts
immune system function and prevents tumor blood vessel growth.

But studies investigating blood levels of vitamin E and mortality, as
well as the effects of taking supplements of the vitamin, have had
conflicting results.

In the current study, Wright and her colleagues compared men's levels
of alpha tocopherol at the beginning of the study, before they had
begun taking the supplements, with their mortality over the course of
the study's follow-up period.

Men with the highest levels of vitamin E in their blood were 18 percent
less likely to die than those with the lowest levels, the researchers
found. They also had a 21-percent lower risk of death from cancer, a
19-percent lower risk of dying from heart disease, and a 30-percent
lower risk of death from other causes.

The optimum concentration appeared to be 13 to 14 milligrams vitamin E
per liter of blood, with higher concentrations offering no additional
benefit.

Because trials of vitamin E supplements have shown no effect on
mortality, the findings don't suggest that they would be beneficial,
but do suggest that people can benefit from getting more vitamin E in
their diet through foods such as "nuts, seeds, whole grains, and
dark-green leafy vegetables," the researchers conclude.

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November 2006.

Roman Bystrianyk wrote:
"Vitamin E levels linked to mortality risk", Reuters UK, November 23,
2006,
Link:
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-11-23T002349Z_01_PAR301405_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-VITAMIN-E-DC.XML&WTmodLoc=SciHealth-C1-Headline-9

A large new study suggests vitamin E may help prevent death from cancer
and heart disease in middle-aged men who smoke, contradicting the
findings of some previous studies on the subject.

In a study of 29,092 Finnish men in their 50s and 60s who were smokers,
those with the highest concentrations of the vitamin E in their blood
at the study's outset were the least likely to die during the follow-up
period, which lasted up to 19 years, Dr. Margaret E. Wright of the
National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland and colleagues report.

There are a number of mechanisms by which vitamin E, also known as
alpha-tocopherol, might promote health, Wright and her team note in the
current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. For
example, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, while it also boosts
immune system function and prevents tumor blood vessel growth.

But studies investigating blood levels of vitamin E and mortality, as
well as the effects of taking supplements of the vitamin, have had
conflicting results.

In the current study, Wright and her colleagues compared men's levels
of alpha tocopherol at the beginning of the study, before they had
begun taking the supplements, with their mortality over the course of
the study's follow-up period.

Men with the highest levels of vitamin E in their blood were 18 percent
less likely to die than those with the lowest levels, the researchers
found. They also had a 21-percent lower risk of death from cancer, a
19-percent lower risk of dying from heart disease, and a 30-percent
lower risk of death from other causes.

The optimum concentration appeared to be 13 to 14 milligrams vitamin E
per liter of blood, with higher concentrations offering no additional
benefit.

Because trials of vitamin E supplements have shown no effect on
mortality, the findings don't suggest that they would be beneficial,
but do suggest that people can benefit from getting more vitamin E in
their diet through foods such as "nuts, seeds, whole grains, and
dark-green leafy vegetables," the researchers conclude.

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November 2006.

Thanks, Roman. Many studies not favorable to vitamin E have been
supplement intake studies, meaning that IU's of vitamin E (as opposed
to serum levels), were measured. Such endpoint data may only reflect
the quality of the supplement, ie., its ability to provide a
metabolized nutrient. It's not surprising that synthetic vitamin E,
which is known to be inferior in function to natural vitamin E, has
made up a large percentage of the vitamin E available to consumers over
the years. In most any drug store, it is difficult to find the
completely natural form. A "dl" designation in the ingredient list
will indicate synthetic vitamin E, while "d" indicates natural.

PeterB

"PeterB" <pkm@mytrashmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164656980.194009.117500@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...

Roman Bystrianyk wrote:
"Vitamin E levels linked to mortality risk", Reuters UK, November 23,
2006,
Link:
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-11-23T002349Z_01_PAR301405_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-VITAMIN-E-DC.XML&WTmodLoc=SciHealth-C1-Headline-9

A large new study suggests vitamin E may help prevent death from cancer
and heart disease in middle-aged men who smoke, contradicting the
findings of some previous studies on the subject.

In a study of 29,092 Finnish men in their 50s and 60s who were smokers,
those with the highest concentrations of the vitamin E in their blood
at the study's outset were the least likely to die during the follow-up
period, which lasted up to 19 years, Dr. Margaret E. Wright of the
National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland and colleagues report.

There are a number of mechanisms by which vitamin E, also known as
alpha-tocopherol, might promote health, Wright and her team note in the
current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. For
example, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, while it also boosts
immune system function and prevents tumor blood vessel growth.

But studies investigating blood levels of vitamin E and mortality, as
well as the effects of taking supplements of the vitamin, have had
conflicting results.

In the current study, Wright and her colleagues compared men's levels
of alpha tocopherol at the beginning of the study, before they had
begun taking the supplements, with their mortality over the course of
the study's follow-up period.

Men with the highest levels of vitamin E in their blood were 18 percent
less likely to die than those with the lowest levels, the researchers
found. They also had a 21-percent lower risk of death from cancer, a
19-percent lower risk of dying from heart disease, and a 30-percent
lower risk of death from other causes.

The optimum concentration appeared to be 13 to 14 milligrams vitamin E
per liter of blood, with higher concentrations offering no additional
benefit.

Because trials of vitamin E supplements have shown no effect on
mortality, the findings don't suggest that they would be beneficial,
but do suggest that people can benefit from getting more vitamin E in
their diet through foods such as "nuts, seeds, whole grains, and
dark-green leafy vegetables," the researchers conclude.

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November 2006.

Thanks, Roman. Many studies not favorable to vitamin E have been
supplement intake studies, meaning that IU's of vitamin E (as opposed
to serum levels), were measured. Such endpoint data may only reflect
the quality of the supplement, ie., its ability to provide a
metabolized nutrient. It's not surprising that synthetic vitamin E,
which is known to be inferior in function to natural vitamin E, has
made up a large percentage of the vitamin E available to consumers over
the years. In most any drug store, it is difficult to find the
completely natural form. A "dl" designation in the ingredient list
will indicate synthetic vitamin E, while "d" indicates natural.

PeterB


AND mixed tocopherols are WAY better than simple d-alpha.

Vernon wrote:
"PeterB" <pkm@mytrashmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164656980.194009.117500@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...

Roman Bystrianyk wrote:
"Vitamin E levels linked to mortality risk", Reuters UK, November 23,
2006,
Link:
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-11-23T002349Z_01_PAR301405_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-VITAMIN-E-DC.XML&WTmodLoc=SciHealth-C1-Headline-9

A large new study suggests vitamin E may help prevent death from
cancer
and heart disease in middle-aged men who smoke, contradicting the
findings of some previous studies on the subject.

In a study of 29,092 Finnish men in their 50s and 60s who were
smokers,
those with the highest concentrations of the vitamin E in their blood
at the study's outset were the least likely to die during the
follow-up
period, which lasted up to 19 years, Dr. Margaret E. Wright of the
National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland and colleagues report.

There are a number of mechanisms by which vitamin E, also known as
alpha-tocopherol, might promote health, Wright and her team note in
the
current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. For
example, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, while it also boosts
immune system function and prevents tumor blood vessel growth.

But studies investigating blood levels of vitamin E and mortality, as
well as the effects of taking supplements of the vitamin, have had
conflicting results.

In the current study, Wright and her colleagues compared men's levels
of alpha tocopherol at the beginning of the study, before they had
begun taking the supplements, with their mortality over the course of
the study's follow-up period.

Men with the highest levels of vitamin E in their blood were 18
percent
less likely to die than those with the lowest levels, the researchers
found. They also had a 21-percent lower risk of death from cancer, a
19-percent lower risk of dying from heart disease, and a 30-percent
lower risk of death from other causes.

The optimum concentration appeared to be 13 to 14 milligrams vitamin E
per liter of blood, with higher concentrations offering no additional
benefit.

Because trials of vitamin E supplements have shown no effect on
mortality, the findings don't suggest that they would be beneficial,
but do suggest that people can benefit from getting more vitamin E in
their diet through foods such as "nuts, seeds, whole grains, and
dark-green leafy vegetables," the researchers conclude.

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November 2006.

Thanks, Roman. Many studies not favorable to vitamin E have been
supplement intake studies, meaning that IU's of vitamin E (as opposed
to serum levels), were measured. Such endpoint data may only reflect
the quality of the supplement, ie., its ability to provide a
metabolized nutrient. It's not surprising that synthetic vitamin E,
which is known to be inferior in function to natural vitamin E, has
made up a large percentage of the vitamin E available to consumers over
the years. In most any drug store, it is difficult to find the
completely natural form. A "dl" designation in the ingredient list
will indicate synthetic vitamin E, while "d" indicates natural.

PeterB


AND mixed tocopherols are WAY better than simple d-alpha.

Why not just eat some nuts and a good varied diet? This vitamin is
plentiful in foods.

This type of study does not even prove that the benefits described were
from the Vitamin E. The blood levels of that may merely be a marker
for a better lifestyle in other respects. It is impossible to adjust
the figures for all possible confounders.

The vitamin pushers have done a good job on some of you.

Peter Moran

Thanks, Roman. Many studies not favorable to vitamin E have been
supplement intake studies, meaning that IU's of vitamin E (as opposed
to serum levels), were measured. Such endpoint data may only reflect
the quality of the supplement, ie., its ability to provide a
metabolized nutrient. It's not surprising that synthetic vitamin E,
which is known to be inferior in function to natural vitamin E, has
made up a large percentage of the vitamin E available to consumers over
the years. In most any drug store, it is difficult to find the
completely natural form. A "dl" designation in the ingredient list
will indicate synthetic vitamin E, while "d" indicates natural.

PeterB

Thanks, Roman. Many studies not favorable to vitamin E have been
supplement intake studies, meaning that IU's of vitamin E (as opposed
to serum levels), were measured. Such endpoint data may only reflect
the quality of the supplement, ie., its ability to provide a
metabolized nutrient. It's not surprising that synthetic vitamin E,
which is known to be inferior in function to natural vitamin E, has
made up a large percentage of the vitamin E available to consumers over
the years. In most any drug store, it is difficult to find the
completely natural form. A "dl" designation in the ingredient list
will indicate synthetic vitamin E, while "d" indicates natural.

PeterB

Here are the excerpts from a study that used vitamin C and E
supplementation that were positive. I have dozens and dozens of
studies that show these types of positive benefits.

J.T. Salonen; K. Nyyssönen, R. Salonen; H.-M. Lakka, J. Kaikkonen; E.
Porkkala-Sarathaho; S. Voutilainen; T. A. Lakka; T. Rissanen; L.
Leskinen; T.-P. Tuomainen; V.-P. Valkonen; U. Ristonmaa; and H.E.
Poulsen, "Antioxidant Supplementation in Atherosclerosis Prevention
(ASAP) study: a randomized trial of the effect of vitamin E and C on
3-year progression of carotid atherosclerosis", Journal of Internal
Medicine, January 1, 2000, Vol. 248, Num. 0, pp. 377-386

"OBJECTIVES: To study the efficacy of vitamin E and C supplementation
on the progression of carotid atherosclerosis, hypothesizing an
enhanced preventive effect in men and in smokers and synergism between
vitamins. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Double-masked two-by-two factorial
trial, randomization in four strata (by gender and smoking status) to
receive twice daily either 91 mg (136 IU) of d-alpha-tocopherol, 250 mg
of slow-release vitamin C, a combination of these or placebo for three
years. A randomized sample of 520 smoking and nonsmoking men and
postmenopausal women aged 45-69 years with serum cholesterol >/= 5.0
mmol L-1 were studied. SETTING: The population of the city of Kuopio in
Eastern Finland. INTERVENTION: Twice daily either a special formulation
of 91 mg of d-alpha-tocopherol, 250 mg of slow-release vitamin C, a
combination of these (CellaVie(R)) or placebo for three years.
MEASUREMENTS: Atherosclerotic progression, defined as the linear
regression slope of ultrasonographically assessed common carotid artery
mean intima-media thickness (IMT), was calculated over semi-annual
assessments. RESULTS: The average increase of the mean IMT was 0.020 mm
year-1 amongst men randomized to placebo and 0.018 mm year-1 in vitamin
E, 0.017 mm year-1 in vitamin C and 0.011 mm year-1 in the vitamin
combination group (P = 0.008 for E + C vs. placebo). The respective
means in women were 0.016, 0.015, 0.017 and 0.016 mm year-1. The
proportion of men with progression was reduced by 74% (95% CI 36-89%, P
= 0.003) by supplementation with the formulation containing both
vitamins, as compared with placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that a
combined supplementation with reasonable doses of both vitamin E and
slow-release vitamin C can retard the progression of common carotid
atherosclerosis in men. This may imply benefits with regard to other
atherosclerosis-based events."

"Vitamin E and vitamin C are considered two of the most important
dietary antioxidants. Vitamin E may also have other anti-atherogenic
properties. When vitamin E works as an antioxidant it is oxidized to
harmful a-tocopheroxoyl radicals, which need to be reduced back to
a-tocopherol. Vitamin C can regenerate harmful a-tocopheroxoyl
radical to a-tocopherol. Theoretically, supplementing high-risk
individuals with high doses of vitamin E alone could even promote
rather than reduce lipid peroxidation. Also, in our prospective
population study, vitamin C deficiency was associated with increased
risk of coronary events. For these reasons we designed a randomized
clinical trial in which not only vitamin E but also vitamin C was
supplemented."

"The doses of the supplements were chosen to keep the plasma ratio of
vitamin C and E concentrations similar to that of unsupplemented
persons. This was tested in pilot and kinetic studies. The pilot
studies also established that a reasonably constant plasma level of
vitamin C was achieved by the dosing of one slow-release tablet in the
morning and another in the evening."

"The covariate-adjusted IMT increase was 50.9% less (0.009 vs. 0.018
mm year-1) in men who received both vitamins E and C, compared with
other men (P = 0.044) and 45.0% less (0.011 vs. 0.020 mm year-1)
compared with the placebo men (P = 0.049). Differences between other
supplementation groups were not statistically significant. The
treatment effect of the vitamin C + E combination was larger amongst
smoking men than non-smoking men. In smoking men, the
covariate-adjusted IMT increase was reduced by 64% and in nonsmoking
men, by 30%. None of the treatment effects were significant in
women."

"In men, the proportion of those who experienced progression was
reduced by 74% (95% CI 36-89%, P = 0.003) in the group randomized to
receive both vitamins, as compared with those who received only
placebo. The respective treatment effect was nonsignificant in groups
that received only vitamin E or vitamin C, although there were trends
towards protection."

"The present findings are the first demonstration in a
population-based study of an atherosclerotic disease preventing effect
of supplementation with antioxidant vitamins. Our study suggests that
the benefit may be limited to men, and possibly to men who are at
increased oxidative stress such as smokers or those who have
insufficient status of dietary or endogenous antioxidants. The observed
effect modification by gender and smoking status needs to be retested
in further clinical trials."

"The progression rate in smoking men who received vitamin E and C
supplements was lower than in nonsmoking men receiving placebo. Thus,
in this study the preventive effect of the supplementation was at least
equal to the atherosclerosis promoting effect of smoking. This is not a
trivial effect from the public health point of view."

"The vitamins E and C supplements were safe. There were neither
excess death nor excess other adverse events in the groups randomized
to supplements, although the sample size was not designed to detect
effects on either deaths or other disease events. Both the adherence to
treatment and the bioavailability of the supplements were good, judged
based on increases of plasma vitamin levels. The drop-out rate during
the trial was exceptionally low."

"In conclusion, our study shows that a formulation providing combined
supplementation with reasonable doses of both vitamin E and
slow-release vitamin C for at least three years can retard the
progression of common carotid atherosclerosis substantially in regular
smoking men. However, this study does not provide evidence for any
substantial preventive effect in postmenopausal women, although a small
benefit cannot be ruled out. As common carotid plaques and increased
intimal-media thickness have been shown to predict coronary events,
this observation may imply benefits with regard to
atherosclerosis-related events."

"PeterB" <pkm@mytrashmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164656980.194009.117500@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...

Roman Bystrianyk wrote:
"Vitamin E levels linked to mortality risk", Reuters UK, November 23,
2006,
Link:
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-11-23T002349Z_01_PAR301405_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-VITAMIN-E-DC.XML&WTmodLoc=SciHealth-C1-Headline-9

A large new study suggests vitamin E may help prevent death from cancer
and heart disease in middle-aged men who smoke, contradicting the
findings of some previous studies on the subject.

In a study of 29,092 Finnish men in their 50s and 60s who were smokers,
those with the highest concentrations of the vitamin E in their blood
at the study's outset were the least likely to die during the follow-up
period, which lasted up to 19 years, Dr. Margaret E. Wright of the
National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland and colleagues report.

There are a number of mechanisms by which vitamin E, also known as
alpha-tocopherol, might promote health, Wright and her team note in the
current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. For
example, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, while it also boosts
immune system function and prevents tumor blood vessel growth.

But studies investigating blood levels of vitamin E and mortality, as
well as the effects of taking supplements of the vitamin, have had
conflicting results.

In the current study, Wright and her colleagues compared men's levels
of alpha tocopherol at the beginning of the study, before they had
begun taking the supplements, with their mortality over the course of
the study's follow-up period.

Men with the highest levels of vitamin E in their blood were 18 percent
less likely to die than those with the lowest levels, the researchers
found. They also had a 21-percent lower risk of death from cancer, a
19-percent lower risk of dying from heart disease, and a 30-percent
lower risk of death from other causes.

The optimum concentration appeared to be 13 to 14 milligrams vitamin E
per liter of blood, with higher concentrations offering no additional
benefit.

Because trials of vitamin E supplements have shown no effect on
mortality, the findings don't suggest that they would be beneficial,
but do suggest that people can benefit from getting more vitamin E in
their diet through foods such as "nuts, seeds, whole grains, and
dark-green leafy vegetables," the researchers conclude.

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November 2006.

Thanks, Roman. Many studies not favorable to vitamin E have been
supplement intake studies, meaning that IU's of vitamin E (as opposed
to serum levels), were measured. Such endpoint data may only reflect
the quality of the supplement, ie., its ability to provide a
metabolized nutrient. It's not surprising that synthetic vitamin E,
which is known to be inferior in function to natural vitamin E, has
made up a large percentage of the vitamin E available to consumers over
the years. In most any drug store, it is difficult to find the
completely natural form. A "dl" designation in the ingredient list
will indicate synthetic vitamin E, while "d" indicates natural.

PeterB


AND mixed tocopherols are WAY better than simple d-alpha.

In article <1164656980.194009.117500@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com
"PeterB" <pkm@mytrashmail.com> wrote:
|
|
| Roman Bystrianyk wrote:
| > "Vitamin E levels linked to mortality risk", Reuters UK, November 23,
| > 2006,
| > Link:
| > http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-11-23T002349Z_01_PAR301405_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-VITAMIN-E-DC.XML&WTmodLoc=SciHealth-C1-Headline-9
|
| > A large new study suggests vitamin E may help prevent death from cancer
| > and heart disease in middle-aged men who smoke, contradicting the
| > findings of some previous studies on the subject.
|
| > In a study of 29,092 Finnish men in their 50s and 60s who were smokers,
| > those with the highest concentrations of the vitamin E in their blood
| > at the study's outset were the least likely to die during the follow-up
| > period, which lasted up to 19 years, Dr. Margaret E. Wright of the
| > National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland and colleagues report.
|
| > There are a number of mechanisms by which vitamin E, also known as
| > alpha-tocopherol, might promote health, Wright and her team note in the
| > current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. For
| > example, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, while it also boosts
| > immune system function and prevents tumor blood vessel growth.
|
| > But studies investigating blood levels of vitamin E and mortality, as
| > well as the effects of taking supplements of the vitamin, have had
| > conflicting results.
|
| > In the current study, Wright and her colleagues compared men's levels
| > of alpha tocopherol at the beginning of the study, before they had
| > begun taking the supplements, with their mortality over the course of
| > the study's follow-up period.
|
| > Men with the highest levels of vitamin E in their blood were 18 percent
| > less likely to die than those with the lowest levels, the researchers
| > found. They also had a 21-percent lower risk of death from cancer, a
| > 19-percent lower risk of dying from heart disease, and a 30-percent
| > lower risk of death from other causes.
|
| > The optimum concentration appeared to be 13 to 14 milligrams vitamin E
| > per liter of blood, with higher concentrations offering no additional
| > benefit.
|
| > Because trials of vitamin E supplements have shown no effect on
| > mortality, the findings don't suggest that they would be beneficial,
| > but do suggest that people can benefit from getting more vitamin E in
| > their diet through foods such as "nuts, seeds, whole grains, and
| > dark-green leafy vegetables," the researchers conclude.
|
| > SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November 2006.
|
| Thanks, Roman. Many studies not favorable to vitamin E have been
| supplement intake studies, meaning that IU's of vitamin E (as opposed
| to serum levels), were measured. Such endpoint data may only reflect
| the quality of the supplement, ie., its ability to provide a
| metabolized nutrient. It's not surprising that synthetic vitamin E,
| which is known to be inferior in function to natural vitamin E, has
| made up a large percentage of the vitamin E available to consumers over
| the years. In most any drug store, it is difficult to find the
| completely natural form. A "dl" designation in the ingredient list
| will indicate synthetic vitamin E, while "d" indicates natural.
|
| PeterB


Over-stating the obvious.

Vernon wrote:
"PeterB" <pkm@mytrashmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164656980.194009.117500@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...

Roman Bystrianyk wrote:
"Vitamin E levels linked to mortality risk", Reuters UK, November 23,
2006,
Link:
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-11-23T002349Z_01_PAR301405_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-VITAMIN-E-DC.XML&WTmodLoc=SciHealth-C1-Headline-9

A large new study suggests vitamin E may help prevent death from
cancer
and heart disease in middle-aged men who smoke, contradicting the
findings of some previous studies on the subject.

In a study of 29,092 Finnish men in their 50s and 60s who were
smokers,
those with the highest concentrations of the vitamin E in their blood
at the study's outset were the least likely to die during the
follow-up
period, which lasted up to 19 years, Dr. Margaret E. Wright of the
National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland and colleagues report.

There are a number of mechanisms by which vitamin E, also known as
alpha-tocopherol, might promote health, Wright and her team note in
the
current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. For
example, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, while it also boosts
immune system function and prevents tumor blood vessel growth.

But studies investigating blood levels of vitamin E and mortality, as
well as the effects of taking supplements of the vitamin, have had
conflicting results.

In the current study, Wright and her colleagues compared men's levels
of alpha tocopherol at the beginning of the study, before they had
begun taking the supplements, with their mortality over the course of
the study's follow-up period.

Men with the highest levels of vitamin E in their blood were 18
percent
less likely to die than those with the lowest levels, the researchers
found. They also had a 21-percent lower risk of death from cancer, a
19-percent lower risk of dying from heart disease, and a 30-percent
lower risk of death from other causes.

The optimum concentration appeared to be 13 to 14 milligrams vitamin E
per liter of blood, with higher concentrations offering no additional
benefit.

Because trials of vitamin E supplements have shown no effect on
mortality, the findings don't suggest that they would be beneficial,
but do suggest that people can benefit from getting more vitamin E in
their diet through foods such as "nuts, seeds, whole grains, and
dark-green leafy vegetables," the researchers conclude.

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November 2006.

Thanks, Roman. Many studies not favorable to vitamin E have been
supplement intake studies, meaning that IU's of vitamin E (as opposed
to serum levels), were measured. Such endpoint data may only reflect
the quality of the supplement, ie., its ability to provide a
metabolized nutrient. It's not surprising that synthetic vitamin E,
which is known to be inferior in function to natural vitamin E, has
made up a large percentage of the vitamin E available to consumers over
the years. In most any drug store, it is difficult to find the
completely natural form. A "dl" designation in the ingredient list
will indicate synthetic vitamin E, while "d" indicates natural.

PeterB


AND mixed tocopherols are WAY better than simple d-alpha.

Agreed. The only supplement I know that includes them all is "Unique
E," by AE Grace, but there may be others.

PeterB

Thanks, Roman. Many studies not favorable to vitamin E have been
supplement intake studies, meaning that IU's of vitamin E (as opposed
to serum levels), were measured. Such endpoint data may only reflect
the quality of the supplement, ie., its ability to provide a
metabolized nutrient. It's not surprising that synthetic vitamin E,
which is known to be inferior in function to natural vitamin E, has
made up a large percentage of the vitamin E available to consumers over
the years. In most any drug store, it is difficult to find the
completely natural form. A "dl" designation in the ingredient list
will indicate synthetic vitamin E, while "d" indicates natural.

PeterB

Here are the excerpts from a study that used vitamin C and E
supplementation that were positive. I have dozens and dozens of
studies that show these types of positive benefits.

J.T. Salonen; K. Nyyssönen, R. Salonen; H.-M. Lakka, J. Kaikkonen; E.
Porkkala-Sarathaho; S. Voutilainen; T. A. Lakka; T. Rissanen; L.
Leskinen; T.-P. Tuomainen; V.-P. Valkonen; U. Ristonmaa; and H.E.
Poulsen, "Antioxidant Supplementation in Atherosclerosis Prevention
(ASAP) study: a randomized trial of the effect of vitamin E and C on
3-year progression of carotid atherosclerosis", Journal of Internal
Medicine, January 1, 2000, Vol. 248, Num. 0, pp. 377-386

"OBJECTIVES: To study the efficacy of vitamin E and C supplementation
on the progression of carotid atherosclerosis, hypothesizing an
enhanced preventive effect in men and in smokers and synergism between
vitamins. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Double-masked two-by-two factorial
trial, randomization in four strata (by gender and smoking status) to
receive twice daily either 91 mg (136 IU) of d-alpha-tocopherol, 250 mg
of slow-release vitamin C, a combination of these or placebo for three
years. A randomized sample of 520 smoking and nonsmoking men and
postmenopausal women aged 45-69 years with serum cholesterol >/= 5.0
mmol L-1 were studied. SETTING: The population of the city of Kuopio in
Eastern Finland. INTERVENTION: Twice daily either a special formulation
of 91 mg of d-alpha-tocopherol, 250 mg of slow-release vitamin C, a
combination of these (CellaVie(R)) or placebo for three years.
MEASUREMENTS: Atherosclerotic progression, defined as the linear
regression slope of ultrasonographically assessed common carotid artery
mean intima-media thickness (IMT), was calculated over semi-annual
assessments. RESULTS: The average increase of the mean IMT was 0.020 mm
year-1 amongst men randomized to placebo and 0.018 mm year-1 in vitamin
E, 0.017 mm year-1 in vitamin C and 0.011 mm year-1 in the vitamin
combination group (P = 0.008 for E + C vs. placebo). The respective
means in women were 0.016, 0.015, 0.017 and 0.016 mm year-1. The
proportion of men with progression was reduced by 74% (95% CI 36-89%, P
= 0.003) by supplementation with the formulation containing both
vitamins, as compared with placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that a
combined supplementation with reasonable doses of both vitamin E and
slow-release vitamin C can retard the progression of common carotid
atherosclerosis in men. This may imply benefits with regard to other
atherosclerosis-based events."

"Vitamin E and vitamin C are considered two of the most important
dietary antioxidants. Vitamin E may also have other anti-atherogenic
properties. When vitamin E works as an antioxidant it is oxidized to
harmful a-tocopheroxoyl radicals, which need to be reduced back to
a-tocopherol. Vitamin C can regenerate harmful a-tocopheroxoyl
radical to a-tocopherol. Theoretically, supplementing high-risk
individuals with high doses of vitamin E alone could even promote
rather than reduce lipid peroxidation. Also, in our prospective
population study, vitamin C deficiency was associated with increased
risk of coronary events. For these reasons we designed a randomized
clinical trial in which not only vitamin E but also vitamin C was
supplemented."

"The doses of the supplements were chosen to keep the plasma ratio of
vitamin C and E concentrations similar to that of unsupplemented
persons. This was tested in pilot and kinetic studies. The pilot
studies also established that a reasonably constant plasma level of
vitamin C was achieved by the dosing of one slow-release tablet in the
morning and another in the evening."

"The covariate-adjusted IMT increase was 50.9% less (0.009 vs. 0.018
mm year-1) in men who received both vitamins E and C, compared with
other men (P = 0.044) and 45.0% less (0.011 vs. 0.020 mm year-1)
compared with the placebo men (P = 0.049). Differences between other
supplementation groups were not statistically significant. The
treatment effect of the vitamin C + E combination was larger amongst
smoking men than non-smoking men. In smoking men, the
covariate-adjusted IMT increase was reduced by 64% and in nonsmoking
men, by 30%. None of the treatment effects were significant in
women."

"In men, the proportion of those who experienced progression was
reduced by 74% (95% CI 36-89%, P = 0.003) in the group randomized to
receive both vitamins, as compared with those who received only
placebo. The respective treatment effect was nonsignificant in groups
that received only vitamin E or vitamin C, although there were trends
towards protection."

"The present findings are the first demonstration in a
population-based study of an atherosclerotic disease preventing effect
of supplementation with antioxidant vitamins. Our study suggests that
the benefit may be limited to men, and possibly to men who are at
increased oxidative stress such as smokers or those who have
insufficient status of dietary or endogenous antioxidants. The observed
effect modification by gender and smoking status needs to be retested
in further clinical trials."

"The progression rate in smoking men who received vitamin E and C
supplements was lower than in nonsmoking men receiving placebo. Thus,
in this study the preventive effect of the supplementation was at least
equal to the atherosclerosis promoting effect of smoking. This is not a
trivial effect from the public health point of view."

"The vitamins E and C supplements were safe. There were neither
excess death nor excess other adverse events in the groups randomized
to supplements, although the sample size was not designed to detect
effects on either deaths or other disease events. Both the adherence to
treatment and the bioavailability of the supplements were good, judged
based on increases of plasma vitamin levels. The drop-out rate during
the trial was exceptionally low."

"In conclusion, our study shows that a formulation providing combined
supplementation with reasonable doses of both vitamin E and
slow-release vitamin C for at least three years can retard the
progression of common carotid atherosclerosis substantially in regular
smoking men. However, this study does not provide evidence for any
substantial preventive effect in postmenopausal women, although a small
benefit cannot be ruled out. As common carotid plaques and increased
intimal-media thickness have been shown to predict coronary events,
this observation may imply benefits with regard to
atherosclerosis-related events."

"PeterB" <pkm@mytrashmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164737300.027962.27140@l39g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...

Vernon wrote:
"PeterB" <pkm@mytrashmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164656980.194009.117500@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...

Roman Bystrianyk wrote:
"Vitamin E levels linked to mortality risk", Reuters UK, November 23,
2006,
Link:
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-11-23T002349Z_01_PAR301405_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-VITAMIN-E-DC.XML&WTmodLoc=SciHealth-C1-Headline-9

A large new study suggests vitamin E may help prevent death from
cancer
and heart disease in middle-aged men who smoke, contradicting the
findings of some previous studies on the subject.

In a study of 29,092 Finnish men in their 50s and 60s who were
smokers,
those with the highest concentrations of the vitamin E in their blood
at the study's outset were the least likely to die during the
follow-up
period, which lasted up to 19 years, Dr. Margaret E. Wright of the
National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland and colleagues report.

There are a number of mechanisms by which vitamin E, also known as
alpha-tocopherol, might promote health, Wright and her team note in
the
current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. For
example, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, while it also boosts
immune system function and prevents tumor blood vessel growth.

But studies investigating blood levels of vitamin E and mortality, as
well as the effects of taking supplements of the vitamin, have had
conflicting results.

In the current study, Wright and her colleagues compared men's levels
of alpha tocopherol at the beginning of the study, before they had
begun taking the supplements, with their mortality over the course of
the study's follow-up period.

Men with the highest levels of vitamin E in their blood were 18
percent
less likely to die than those with the lowest levels, the researchers
found. They also had a 21-percent lower risk of death from cancer, a
19-percent lower risk of dying from heart disease, and a 30-percent
lower risk of death from other causes.

The optimum concentration appeared to be 13 to 14 milligrams vitamin E
per liter of blood, with higher concentrations offering no additional
benefit.

Because trials of vitamin E supplements have shown no effect on
mortality, the findings don't suggest that they would be beneficial,
but do suggest that people can benefit from getting more vitamin E in
their diet through foods such as "nuts, seeds, whole grains, and
dark-green leafy vegetables," the researchers conclude.

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November 2006.

Thanks, Roman. Many studies not favorable to vitamin E have been
supplement intake studies, meaning that IU's of vitamin E (as opposed
to serum levels), were measured. Such endpoint data may only reflect
the quality of the supplement, ie., its ability to provide a
metabolized nutrient. It's not surprising that synthetic vitamin E,
which is known to be inferior in function to natural vitamin E, has
made up a large percentage of the vitamin E available to consumers over
the years. In most any drug store, it is difficult to find the
completely natural form. A "dl" designation in the ingredient list
will indicate synthetic vitamin E, while "d" indicates natural.

PeterB


AND mixed tocopherols are WAY better than simple d-alpha.

Agreed. The only supplement I know that includes them all is "Unique
E," by AE Grace, but there may be others.

PeterB


There are MANY.

Vernon wrote:
"PeterB" <pkm@mytrashmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164737300.027962.27140@l39g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...

Vernon wrote:
"PeterB" <pkm@mytrashmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164656980.194009.117500@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...

Roman Bystrianyk wrote:
"Vitamin E levels linked to mortality risk", Reuters UK, November
23,
2006,
Link:
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-11-23T002349Z_01_PAR301405_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-VITAMIN-E-DC.XML&WTmodLoc=SciHealth-C1-Headline-9

A large new study suggests vitamin E may help prevent death from
cancer
and heart disease in middle-aged men who smoke, contradicting the
findings of some previous studies on the subject.

In a study of 29,092 Finnish men in their 50s and 60s who were
smokers,
those with the highest concentrations of the vitamin E in their
blood
at the study's outset were the least likely to die during the
follow-up
period, which lasted up to 19 years, Dr. Margaret E. Wright of the
National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland and colleagues
report.

There are a number of mechanisms by which vitamin E, also known as
alpha-tocopherol, might promote health, Wright and her team note in
the
current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. For
example, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, while it also boosts
immune system function and prevents tumor blood vessel growth.

But studies investigating blood levels of vitamin E and mortality,
as
well as the effects of taking supplements of the vitamin, have had
conflicting results.

In the current study, Wright and her colleagues compared men's
levels
of alpha tocopherol at the beginning of the study, before they had
begun taking the supplements, with their mortality over the course
of
the study's follow-up period.

Men with the highest levels of vitamin E in their blood were 18
percent
less likely to die than those with the lowest levels, the
researchers
found. They also had a 21-percent lower risk of death from cancer,
a
19-percent lower risk of dying from heart disease, and a 30-percent
lower risk of death from other causes.

The optimum concentration appeared to be 13 to 14 milligrams
vitamin E
per liter of blood, with higher concentrations offering no
additional
benefit.

Because trials of vitamin E supplements have shown no effect on
mortality, the findings don't suggest that they would be
beneficial,
but do suggest that people can benefit from getting more vitamin E
in
their diet through foods such as "nuts, seeds, whole grains, and
dark-green leafy vegetables," the researchers conclude.

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November 2006.

Thanks, Roman. Many studies not favorable to vitamin E have been
supplement intake studies, meaning that IU's of vitamin E (as
opposed
to serum levels), were measured. Such endpoint data may only
reflect
the quality of the supplement, ie., its ability to provide a
metabolized nutrient. It's not surprising that synthetic vitamin E,
which is known to be inferior in function to natural vitamin E, has
made up a large percentage of the vitamin E available to consumers
over
the years. In most any drug store, it is difficult to find the
completely natural form. A "dl" designation in the ingredient list
will indicate synthetic vitamin E, while "d" indicates natural.

PeterB


AND mixed tocopherols are WAY better than simple d-alpha.

Agreed. The only supplement I know that includes them all is "Unique
E," by AE Grace, but there may be others.

PeterB


There are MANY.

That shows how behind I am on this. Is there a brand you like that I
might not know about?

Vernon wrote:
"PeterB" <pkm@mytrashmail.com> wrote in message
news:1164656980.194009.117500@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...

Roman Bystrianyk wrote:
"Vitamin E levels linked to mortality risk", Reuters UK, November 23,
2006,
Link:
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-11-23T002349Z_01_PAR301405_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-VITAMIN-E-DC.XML&WTmodLoc=SciHealth-C1-Headline-9

A large new study suggests vitamin E may help prevent death from cancer
and heart disease in middle-aged men who smoke, contradicting the
findings of some previous studies on the subject.

In a study of 29,092 Finnish men in their 50s and 60s who were smokers,
those with the highest concentrations of the vitamin E in their blood
at the study's outset were the least likely to die during the follow-up
period, which lasted up to 19 years, Dr. Margaret E. Wright of the
National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland and colleagues report.

There are a number of mechanisms by which vitamin E, also known as
alpha-tocopherol, might promote health, Wright and her team note in the
current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. For
example, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, while it also boosts
immune system function and prevents tumor blood vessel growth.

But studies investigating blood levels of vitamin E and mortality, as
well as the effects of taking supplements of the vitamin, have had
conflicting results.

In the current study, Wright and her colleagues compared men's levels
of alpha tocopherol at the beginning of the study, before they had
begun taking the supplements, with their mortality over the course of
the study's follow-up period.

Men with the highest levels of vitamin E in their blood were 18 percent
less likely to die than those with the lowest levels, the researchers
found. They also had a 21-percent lower risk of death from cancer, a
19-percent lower risk of dying from heart disease, and a 30-percent
lower risk of death from other causes.

The optimum concentration appeared to be 13 to 14 milligrams vitamin E
per liter of blood, with higher concentrations offering no additional
benefit.

Because trials of vitamin E supplements have shown no effect on
mortality, the findings don't suggest that they would be beneficial,
but do suggest that people can benefit from getting more vitamin E in
their diet through foods such as "nuts, seeds, whole grains, and
dark-green leafy vegetables," the researchers conclude.

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November 2006.

Thanks, Roman. Many studies not favorable to vitamin E have been
supplement intake studies, meaning that IU's of vitamin E (as opposed
to serum levels), were measured. Such endpoint data may only reflect
the quality of the supplement, ie., its ability to provide a
metabolized nutrient. It's not surprising that synthetic vitamin E,
which is known to be inferior in function to natural vitamin E, has
made up a large percentage of the vitamin E available to consumers over
the years. In most any drug store, it is difficult to find the
completely natural form. A "dl" designation in the ingredient list
will indicate synthetic vitamin E, while "d" indicates natural.

PeterB


AND mixed tocopherols are WAY better than simple d-alpha.

Agreed. The only supplement I know that includes them all is "Unique
E," by AE Grace, but there may be others.