The Health Sciences Institute is intended to provide cutting-edge health information.
Nothing on this site should be interpreted as personal medical advice. Always consult with your doctor before changing anything related to your healthcare.

Vitamin E and respiratory infections

Could vitamin E be bad for you? Don’t you believe it

It would certainly seem unlikely that a well-known antioxidant source like vitamin E could actually do any harm. And yet I came across an article from Reuters Health last week with this headline: “Vitamin E May Worsen Elders’ Respiratory Infections.”

My first reaction: I wasn’t buying it. And after reading the article I was no less skeptical. But before I had a chance to do some digging to locate the study, I received an e-mail from HSI panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., who had already read the report. And to say Dr. Spreen had a bone to pick would be an understatement. So I asked him if he would write a commentary about the inaccuracies hidden in the report, and he quite generously responded with a rare insider’s view of a clinical study – in this case, a study that went way off track somewhere.

Hang onto your hat. Dr. Spreen is in the building.

State of the art in medical evaluation of vitamins 

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published in August a serious paper (at least I really tried not to laugh) concerning the “Effect of Daily Vitamin E and Multivitamin-Mineral Supplementation on Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Elderly Persons.” This would certainly appear to be significant information since the elderly are not particularly immune to respiratory infections, and some cheap insurance against them would be pretty neat. Alas, such does not appear to be the case.

Cutting to the chase (meaning reading the ‘conclusions’ paragraph, which is all most docs have time for), we are enlightened with the following: “Neither daily multivitamin-mineral supplementation at physiological dose nor 200 mg of vitamin E showed a favorable effect on incidence and severity of acute respiratory tract infections in well-nourished noninstitutionalized elderly individuals. Instead we observed adverse effects of vitamin E on illness severity.”

Guess that about settles it. No need now to waste any money taking vitamins for this problem anyway.

Mama mia, where do I begin?

Star treatment? 

Permit me an opinion here (alas, the first of many): the authors were either, 1) desperate to publish somethinganything (this is possible), 2) hell-bent on demonstrating that vitamins are worthless (my first choice), or 3) total idiots (not ruling this out).

The list of vagaries in such a useless piece of trash is so long that we could take two sessions to handle it all. I take it back – the article is not useless. It’s an excellent example of how conventional medicine tries to trample on the effects of simple, inexpensive, and amazingly safe alternatives to pharmaceuticals (which are not so simple, inexpensive, or safe). In that light it’s worth a good look.
So let’s play with the only named nutrient in the entire work, vitamin E. Other than a generalized (and deliberately weak) multivitamin-mineral preparation, vitamin E is the spotlighted nutrient, so we’d certainly expect it to be handled appropriately as the star of the show.

First, the nutrient selection. I can’t really explain why vitamin E would be someone’s first choice for respiratory infections. It’s like giving an antibiotic for insomniait may be a great agent, but not necessarily for everything. In this case, the idea is that vitamin E was shown in a previous study to demonstrate a positive effect on the immune system in general (they admit to that), but not specifically respiratory infections.

A bit of a leap there, but not necessarily altogether a bad idea. I mean, I’d have studied some of the really well known nutrients for acute illness (such as vitamin C, n-acetyl cysteine (NAC), alpha lipoic acid or others), but still the idea may have some worth.

Measure for measure

So let’s get to the really bad ideas. The first would be the obvious responsibility to describe your main topic correctly. Vitamin E is fat-soluble, and therefore is measured in international units (IU) of activity, as opposed to milligrams. Not once is ‘IU’ ever mentioned.

Okay, milligram and IU use may be close, in general, but it’s not really proper to interchange them – especially since we’re reading this in one of the premier medical journals in the U.S.!

Another goof is that the vitamin E is also measured in units that make absolutely no sense, specifically “mg/dL” when they say that the vitamin E supplement “contained 200 mg/dL of alpha-tocopheryl acetate. This normally means ‘milligrams per deciliter,’ meaning the number of milligrams contained in 100 cubic centimeters of whatever solution is being measuredgibberish in this context. Other than just sloppy work this also could be forgiven, except that the mistake comes at THE ONLY TIME IN THE ENTIRE PAPER WHERE THE ACTUAL FORM OF VITAMIN E IS DESCRIBED (and you guessed it: there are several forms of the stuff).

Something’s not right here

Now things become a bit more serious. One would guess that the most likely conclusion (you’re not supposed to have to GUESS in a published, peer-reviewed scientific paper) is that the experimenters used ‘200 mg of dl alpha-tocopheryl acetate’, and if so that’s very important. Here’s why: ‘dl’ alpha-tocopheryl is SYNTHETIC vitamin E, and that distinction is most significant for this particular nutrient because only half of the molecules in dl alpha-vitamin E are utilized by the body. (The other half are molecules unrecognized by the body, and must also be handled by it, though nobody knows how!) So assuming the researchers did use ‘200 mg of dl alpha-tocopheryl acetate’ (hard to prove since they screwed up the description), the mistake is a big one. They not only used a smaller active dose, but also one that has to be handled abnormally by the body.

Fear not, it gets worse. Say, for sake of argument, that these paragons of nutritional wisdom used natural vitamin E (this would be signified by the term ‘d alpha-vitamin E’ instead of ‘dl alpha’). Any nutritional doc who knows anything at all knows not to use alpha tocopherol, natural or otherwise, because using the alpha fraction without the other fractions – beta, delta, and gamma – causes the other fractions to decrease in value. This is why good supplements are always of the ‘mixed tocopherol’ variety, containing all the fractions.

And guess what. In the body of the report (not on the first page, like the abstract’s conclusions), they made an amazing discovery: “In the vitamin E group, alpha-tocopherol and cholesterol-adjusted alpha-tocopherol levels increase significantly, while gamma-tocopherol levels decreased significantly.”

Really.

Conclusion: not worthy 

Oh, and don’t go thinking that the knowledge of alpha-tocopherol adversely affecting gamma tocopherol might be previously unknown. It’s not only known, but known to JAMA! Just two months earlier, JAMA reported on 2 studies showing antioxidants (including vitamin E) helped reduce risk of Alzheimer’s disease (up to 70%, by the waykinda cool). And 2 weeks earlier than that, IN THE SAME JOURNAL, vitamins were shown to reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis [JAMA, June 19, 2002]).

Now, check this out. The Alzheimer’s researchers used dietary vitamin E in their study, and the September 2002 edition of Life Extension explains exactly why: “Dietary vitamin E is rich in the gamma tocopherol fraction of vitamin E, whereas vitamin E supplements consist primarily of alpha tocopherol [depending on which you buy/ed. note]. IT IS THE GAMMA TOCOPHEROL FRACTION OF VITAMIN E THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE THE CRITICAL FACTOR IN SUPPRESSING FREE RADICALS.” (emphasis mine)

And our erstwhile researchers were using a synthetic supplement that ITSELF lowered that very fraction.

Hopefully, the problems above will not be seen as insignificant, as I’ve gone to considerable length to demonstrate that they are anything but. Bear in mind, however, that your doc sees the one-liner in the conclusions on page one ‘showing’ him how useless vitamin E is, when what’s useless is the report itself.

We could go on to examine the incredibly tiny dosages used of all the other nutrients in the study (the puny RDA of the vitamins, and only one half to one quarter the RDA of the minerals!)

But I figured these rats had already led us through enough of a maze.

Good Health,
Allan N. Spreen, MD

If you enjoyed Dr. Spreen’s commentary as much as I did, I strongly recommend you look for a copy of his fascinating book “Nutritionally Incorrect: Why the American Diet is Dangerous and How to Defend Yourself” (Woodland Publishing). Not only is it a wealth of information on nutrition and vitamin supplements, but it’s also a very lively read.

 

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get a free copy of 5 Household Items that Cause Cancer

By texting HSI to 844-539-1128, you are providing your electronic signature expressly consenting to be called and texted (including by prerecorded messages, using an autodialer, and/or automated means) with alerts, stories, reports, and marketing communications from Institute of Health Sciences, LLC. and its authorized representatives at the phone number you provide, including landlines and wireless numbers, even if the phone number is on a corporate, state or national Do Not Call list. You also consent and unconditionally agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the arbitration provision and class action waiver contained therein. Msg&data rates may apply. 15 Msgs/Month. You are not required to agree to this as a condition of making a purchase.

Terms & Conditions

The following Terms and Conditions apply to your use of the website located at hsionline.com (the “website”) and any text messages that you send to or receive from the Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C. These Terms and Conditions constitute a binding agreement (“Agreement”) between you (“you”) Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C (“we”, “us”, etc.)  Please read these terms carefully. 

By providing your telephone number to us, texting us a short code listed on the website, or otherwise indicate your agreement to these Terms and Conditions, you are agreeing to the mandatory arbitration provision and class action waiver below. 

ARBITRATION IS MANDATORY AND THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR ANY AND ALL DISPUTES RELATED TO THIS WEBSITE, THIS AGREEMENT, AND ANY TELEPHONE CALLS, EMAILS, OR TEXT MESSAGES THAT YOU RECEIVE FROM OR ON BEHALF OF US, UNLESS SPECIFIED BELOW OR UNLESS YOU OPT-OUT.

Text Messaging and Telemarketing Terms and Conditions

When you provide your telephone number on this website or send a text message to us with or from a short-code, you agree to receive alerts and communications, and marketing messages including those sent via automated telephone dialing system, text messages, SMS, MMS, and picture messages from Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C at the phone number you provide on this website or the phone number from which you text the short code, including on landlines and wireless numbers, even if the phone number is on a corporate, state or national Do Not Call list. You also agree to the mandatory arbitration provision and class action waiver below. Your consent is not required to purchase goods or services. Message & data rates may apply.

You may opt-out at any time by texting the word STOP to the telephone number from which you receive the text messages.  Call 1-888-213-0764 to learn more.  By providing your telephone number, you agree to notify us of any changes to your telephone number and update your account us to reflect this change. Your carrier may charge you for text messages and telephone calls that you receive, or may prohibit or restrict certain mobile features, and certain mobile features may be incompatible with your carrier or mobile device. Contact your carrier with questions regarding these issues.

Dispute Resolution by Binding Arbitration and Class Action Waiver

Any dispute relating in any way to telephone calls, emails, or text messages that you receive from or on behalf of Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C this website, or this Agreement (collectively “Disputes”) shall be submitted to confidential arbitration and shall be governed exclusively by the laws of the State of Maryland, excluding its conflict of law provisions.  For the avoidance of doubt, all claims arising under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and state telemarketing laws shall be considered “Disputes” that are subject to resolution by binding individual, confidential arbitration.

If a Dispute arises under this Agreement, you agree to first contact us at 1-888-213-0764 or help@hsionline.com. Before formally submitting a Dispute to arbitration, you and we may choose to informally resolve the Dispute.  If any Dispute cannot be resolved informally, you agree that any and all Disputes, including the validity of this arbitration clause and class action waiver, shall be submitted to final and binding arbitration before a single arbitrator of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) in a location convenient to you or telephonically. Either you or we may commence the arbitration process by submitting a written demand for arbitration with the AAA, and providing a copy to the other party.  The arbitration will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the AAA’s Commercial Dispute Resolutions Procedures, Supplementary Procedures for Consumer-Related Disputes, in effect at the time of submission of the demand for arbitration.  Except as may be required by law as determined by the arbitrator, no party or arbitrator may disclose the existence, content or results of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of both parties. Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C will pay all of the filing costs.  Without limiting the foregoing, YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE TO SUBMIT TO ARBITRATION ALL DISPUTES RELATING TO ANY TEXT MESSAGES OR TELEPHONE CALLS YOU RECEIVE FROM OR ON BEHALF OF US OR ANY ENTITY WITH WHOM WE MAY SHARE YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER.  Further, we both agree that all entities with whom we share your telephone numbers shall be third party beneficiaries of this Agreement to Arbitrate Disputes, and that those entities have the same rights as Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C to enforce this arbitration provision.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following shall not be subject to arbitration and may be adjudicated only in the state and federal courts of Maryland: (i) any dispute, controversy, or claim relating to or contesting the validity of our or one of our family company’s intellectual property rights and proprietary rights, including without limitation, patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, or trade secrets; (ii) an action by us for temporary or preliminary injunctive relief, whether prohibitive or mandatory, or other provisional relief; (iii) any legal action by us against a non-consumer; or (iv) interactions with governmental and regulatory authorities.  You expressly agree to refrain from bringing or joining any claims in any representative or class-wide capacity, including but not limited to bringing or joining any claims in any class action or any class-wide arbitration.

The arbitrator’s award shall be binding and may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no arbitration under this Agreement may be joined to an arbitration involving any other party subject to this Agreement, whether through a class action, private attorney general proceeding, class arbitration proceedings or otherwise.

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A RIGHT TO LITIGATE IN A COURT, TO HAVE A JUDGE OR JURY DECIDE YOUR CASE AND TO BE PARTY TO A CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION.  HOWEVER, YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO HAVE ANY CLAIMS DECIDED INDIVIDUALLY AND ONLY THROUGH ARBITRATION.  You shall have thirty (30) days from the earliest of the date that you visit the website, the date you submit information to us through the website, or the date that you send a text message to us, to opt out of this arbitration agreement, by contacting us by email at help@hsionline.com or by mail Health Sciences Institute, PO Box 913, Frederick, MD 21705-0913. If you do not opt out by the earliest of the date that you visit the website, the date you submit information to us through the website, or the date that you send a text message to us, then you are not eligible to opt out of this arbitration agreement.

Electronic Signatures

All information communicated on the website is considered an electronic communication.  When you communicate with us through or on the website, by text message or telephone, or via other forms of electronic media, such as e-mail, you are communicating with us electronically.  You agree that we may communicate electronically with you and that such communications, as well as notices, disclosures, agreements, and other communications that we provide to you electronically, are equivalent to communications in writing and shall have the same force and effect as if they were in writing and signed by the party sending the communication.

You further acknowledge and agree that by clicking on a button labeled “ORDER NOW”, “SUBMIT”, “I ACCEPT”, “I AGREE”, “YES”, by texting a short code to us in response to a request on this website, or by clicking or similar links or buttons, you are submitting a legally binding electronic signature and are entering into a legally binding contract.  You acknowledge that your electronic submissions constitute your agreement and intent to be bound by this Agreement.  Pursuant to any applicable statutes, regulations, rules, ordinances or other laws, including without limitation the United States Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, P.L. 106-229 (the “E-Sign Act”) or other similar statutes, YOU HEREBY AGREE TO THE USE OF ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES, CONTRACTS, ORDERS AND OTHER RECORDS AND TO ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF NOTICES, POLICIES AND RECORDS OF TRANSACTIONS INITIATED OR COMPLETED THROUGH THE WEBSITE.  Furthermore, you hereby waive any rights or requirements under any statutes, regulations, rules, ordinances or other laws in any jurisdiction which require an original signature, delivery or retention of non-electronic records, or to payments or the granting of credits by other than electronic means You may receive a physical paper copy of this contract by contacting us at help@hsionline.com.

Privacy Policy

Please read our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference.  In the event of any conflict between these Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy, these Terms shall control.

Contact Us

You may contact us by telephone at 1-888-213-0764 or by email at help@hsionline.com.