What Doctors Don't Tell YouThe world’s press has gleefully jumped on the study that suggests high doses of vitamin E could increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. The risks were associated with daily doses of around 400 IU (international units) or above.
Currently safe upper limits are thought to be around 1500 IUs, and this has been established by testing the supplement in a range of trials.
The new findings are also based on a review of 19 trials – so why the difference? In the first place, the new meta-analysis, carried out by researchers at Johns Hopkins university, involved mainly elderly people with chronic conditions, and so did not include a younger, healthier population.
Despite this, the media interpreted the results as a health concern for everyone, which is not justified.
Secondly, the analysis reviewed trials that used only a-tocopherol, one of seven forms of vitamin E, and a synthetic variety at that. A better form, y-tocopherol, has been proven to help prevent heart disease and cancer.
So, again, a global condemnation of vitamin E was not justified.
The correct headlines should have read something like: ‘Synthetic form of vitamin E may raise heart risk among elderly with chronic conditions’.
Of course, the truth has nothing to do with it. Expect to see vitamin E disappear from the shelves of your friendly healthstore – in the UK and the USA – some time soon.
Daniel Redwood DC
Tom Ferguson MD
