Vitamin E may help prolong lifespan of Alzheimer's patients

Vitamin E may help prolong lifespan of Alzheimer’s patients

Vitamin E – isn’t that the dietary supplement that can kill you?

Unfortunately, there are those who actually believe that, even though the 2004 meta- analysis of studies that brought us that conclusion has been widely debunked.

So you’ve got to think that many people were probably scratching their heads when they came across this headline last month: “Vitamin E Extends Longevity in Individuals with Cognitive Challenges.”

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine recommended a vitamin E supplement of 2,000 IU daily to more than 800 Alzheimer’s patients. After five years the Baylor team found that about two-thirds of the subjects followed the recommendation while also taking a type of Alzheimer’s drug called cholinesterase inhibitor. About 85 subjects took only vitamin E, and about 130 subjects took no vitamin E at all.

Results showed a 26 percent reduction in all-cause mortality among subjects who took vitamin E at the suggested dose, which was more than 90 times higher than the RDA.

As HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D. has pointed out in previous e-Alerts, vitamin E supplements are very dangerous – but only if a crate filled with them is dropped on your head.