Vitamin E Public Enemy #1?

[Guest guest]

So, who believes Vitamin E is bad for you?

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http://news./s/hsn/20050719/hl_hsn/peoplenotheedingvitaminewarnings;_ylt=AlBGgHrCWykQas6M.p_KIhe3j7AB;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

"Both Mokdad and his colleague, Dr. Umed A. Ajani, said that the exact mechanism by which high-dose vitamin E supplementation poses health risks is not yet fully understood. However, they emphasized, the danger is real.

"We know there is an increased risk, and at this point this affects a sizeable proportion of the U.S. population," Ajani said.

Mokdad suggested that now-discredited research that had been widely publicized more than a decade ago had led many people to erroneously conclude that vitamin E supplementation was beneficial and protective -- and that more was better.

"There was this theory that antioxidants such as vitamin E will lead to less blockage in the arteries," said Mokdad. "But there have been several clinical trials since that show that, in reality, this is not true. Unfortunately there was a lot of media attention given to the antioxidant theory, and it seems people haven't kept up with the most recent data that showed, in fact, that it may harm you a little bit."

Both Mokdad and Ajani agreed that vitamin supplementation overall is ripe for abuse and poorly understood.

"It's not controlled, it's easily available, and it makes people feel good that they're doing something for themselves," Mokdad said. "Unfortunately, it's thought of as an easy solution for a major problem with poor diets. And that's why we're trying to get this public health message out there -- that you need to get out of this mentality that a pill will sort out our problems."

"There may be some supplements out there that are good for people to take now and then," Ajani added. "But in the case of vitamin E, the research does not support any benefit, and in fact it may harm you."

Dr. Jay , chief of hematology/oncology at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans, concurred.

"Everyone thinks that taking vitamins and supplements is perfectly OK to do," said. "But these are active drugs, and we don't understand completely what they do. So, I do not recommend to any of my patients to be taking extra dosage of vitamins, unless they're involved in a research study."

"I know of no disease . . . that can be prevented or treated by taking vitamin E," added. "So, I don't take it personally to prevent prostate cancer or other diseases. We just don't know if it works, and it may actually be detrimental."

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T. pct35768@...

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