R-E-S-P-E-C-T

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

“All I’m askin’,” sang Aretha Franklin back in 1967, “is for a little respect.”

I’m pretty sure Aretha wasn’t singing about vitamin E, but 40 years later we can apply those lyrics to the shoddy treatment this key antioxidant continues to receive from mainstream researchers.

Here’s one researcher’s take on E: “In my opinion, vitamin E is not the spiffy antioxidant everybody thinks it is – it’s a pretty poor antioxidant.”

Typical, right? Okay, now here’s the kicker: That quote comes from Jack Roberts, M.D., of Vanderbilt University who led a recent study that revealed just how effective vitamin E can be when the dose is high enough to make a real difference. In fact, Dr. Robert’s study showed a clear benefit in vitamin E supplementation for patients at high risk of heart diseaseand poor E still can’t get a little respect!

Spiffy is as spiffy does

Turns out, oxidative stress is all about the F2-isoprostanes, according to the Vanderbilt team. F2-isoprostanes (we’ll just call them F2 for short) provide an accurate biomarker for measuring the oxidation of fats. And as we’ve seen in previous research, it’s not the fats alone that are dangerous, it’s the fats that become oxidized that lead to narrowing of the arteries and coronary blockages.

Researchers recruited 35 subjects who were judged to be at high risk of heart disease due to a combination of high oxidative stress and genetically induced high cholesterol. Subjects were divided into seven groups. For 20 weeks, one group received a placebo, while the other groups received six different daily dosage levels of vitamin E: 100 IU, 200 IU, 400 IU, 800 IU, 1,600 IU, or 3,200 IU.

The vitamin E form used was “RRR-alpha-tocopherol,” which is a “naturally occurring” form. Most likely, this form was d-alpha, as opposed to the dl-alpha form, which is synthetic. And although dl alpha vitamin E is not recommended for internal consumption, we’ve seen a number of studies over the years that used this undesirable form.

Results: F2 measurements went unchanged in the placebo group and all of the dosage groups under 1,600 IU. But the two highest groups had clear results:

1,600 IU reduced F2 levels by 35 percent

3,200 IU reduced F2 levels by 49 percent

Pulling focus

In Dr. Roberts’ comments to NutraIngredients he noted that even with the 3,200 IU “massive dosage” of vitamin E, “you only observe a 50 percent reduction in F2- isoprostanes.” But in the published study (which appears in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine), Dr. Roberts and his colleagues write: “Specifically, we have now what is generally recognized to be a reliable approach to assess oxidative stress status in humans, i.e., measurement of F2-isophrostanes.”

Soif F2 measurement provides an excellent new way to judge oxidative stress, and if vitamin E cuts F2 in half for subjects at risk of heart disease whose oxidative stress is unusually high, then why would Dr. Roberts call vitamin E a “pretty poor antioxidant”? He seems to want us to focus on his new research tool rather than the results his tool produced.

Without question, 3,200 IU is a very large dose of vitamin E. But would there be any harm at that level? I put this question to HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., and he had this to offer: “With vitamin E, ‘safe’ isn’t really the issue (other than choking to death on the capsules) – it’s more what can you afford, and what are you willing to swallow? The Shute brothers, who did the original research back in the ’50’s, used huge amounts, which just isn’t fun to swallow. I used to say 400 IU of d-alpha for everyone, 800 for the heart disease risk guy.”

While I had him, I also put this question to Dr. Spreen: “What does vitamin E have to do to earn a little respect?”

His answer: “Be patented.”

In other words, when it comes to mainstream research, pharmaceuticals (and the piles of profits that come with them) get respect – even when they’re shown to be dangerous. But a safe, naturally occurring vitamin that’s proven to reduce oxidative stress in people at risk of heart disease? Sorryno respect.

Talk to your doctor about this study before increasing your vitamin E intake.

Sources:
“Higher Vitamin E Doses May Produce Better Results for Heart” Stephen Daniells, NutraIngredients, 8/24/07, nutraingredients.com