Vitamin E choices

Before you head out to buy vitamin E supplements, I want to share some useful information about what kind of vitamin E to look for. Because there are different types, and the choice you make is important.

In an e-Alert I sent you last August (“Deconstructing JAMA” 8/27/02), HSI Panelist, Allan Spreen, M.D., gave us an in-depth look at a report that had some misleading information about vitamin E. In that e-Alert, Dr. Spreen had this to say about alpha tocopherol vitamin E:

“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.”

In response to that e-Alert, I received an e-mail with this question from an HSI member named Gerry:

“I’m taking a vitamin E gel capsule that says ‘400 IU of pure vitamin E in the form of d alpha tocopheryl acetate, derived and isolated from 100% natural sources’ According to the above quote from your article, am I not supposed to be taking this type?”

And here is Dr. Spreen’s response to Gerry’s question:

“The ‘d alpha’ is definitely superior to “dl alpha,” as there are no synthetic molecules aboard (and in the case of vitamin E that does make a difference). Now that ‘mixed tocopherols’ are commonly available, however, in my opinion that is a far superior option.”

So for best vitamin E results, mix those tocopherols well.

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute