Vitamin E and respiratory tract infections

The Fight Against the Common Cold

It’s time to fight the good fight.

Against the common cold that is.

In a 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers reported on a study in which more than 600 subjects, aged 65 or older, received either a daily supplement of 200 IU of vitamin E or a placebo for a trial period of one year.

The results: Vitamin E supplements had no effect on lower respiratory tract infections, but did have a preventive effect on upper respiratory infections. In fact, the subjects who took E supplements had a 20 percent reduced risk of coming down with a common cold.

Right off, I can think of two things that might improve that percentage of reduced risk.

In the e-Alert “Over the Teeth, Past the Gums” (2/5/03), HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., recommended a vitamin E daily dose of 400 IU. Of course, more is not always better, but doubling up on the 200 IU used in the study may help overcome problems of vitamin absorbency. Dr. Spreen also recommends supplementing with “mixed tocopherols” when taking vitamin E. Most vitamin E studies use only one form of tocopherol, which is not as effective as getting a mix.

Of course, there are plenty of good dietary sources of vitamin E, such as eggs, liver, nuts and seeds, spinach, broccoli, peaches, wheat germ and vegetable oils.

And when supplementing with vitamin E, Dr. Spreen strongly recommends an additional supplement of 200 mcg of selenium per day. As Dr. Spreen has pointed out, “Both selenium and vitamin E are intimately associated with stimulation of the part of the immune system dealing with production of immunoglobulins.” (The immune system uses immunoglobulins (or antibodies) to identify and neutralize viruses and bacteria.)

Sources:
“Vitamin E and Respiratory Tract Infections in Elderly Nursing Home Residents” Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 292, No. 7, 8/18/04, jama.ama-assn.org