Natural vitamin E healthier than vitamin E supplements

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Natural vitamin E healthier than vitamin E supplements

Tuesday, 29-Jun-2004 News-Medical.Net

Vitamin E in foods may offer more health benefits than vitamin E

supplements.

How to know if you’re getting your vitamin E’s worth? The July issue of

Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers guidance:

Vitamin E comes in many forms. Foods contain the alpha-tocopherol,

gamma-tocopherol, and delta-tocopherol forms of vitamin E. Research

suggests that these forms -- when obtained from foods such as nuts,

vegetable oils, whole grains, tomato products and dark-green leafy

vegetables, may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and certain

types of cancers.

Supplements appear less beneficial. Studies haven’t consistently shown

that supplemental vitamin E provides the same risk-reducing effect as

does vitamin E in foods. It could be because supplements typically

contain only the alpha-tocopherol form, or have it in high amounts.

Some supplements could be better than others. Supplements that contain

mixed tocopherols -- including natural alpha-tocopherol and other forms

such as gamma- and delta-tocopherol, may provide better health benefits.

Food offers other benefits. Foods high in vitamin E also are rich in

other compounds that can protect against disease. Even if you take a

supplement, don’t neglect rich dietary sources of vitamin E.