Re: Low Vit E linked to greater decline in health

[Guest guest]

Hi Dave:

When they say they do not recommend supplements, that seems to imply they are not really sure it is vitamin E that is the factor involved here. Right? If it was then a supplement of it would fix the problem.

Their finding could perhaps mean that vitamin E is a marker for something else in the foods they had eaten that happened to contain the vitamin E.

I find that just one 400 IU capsule of vitamin E a week gives me way more than the RDA. But I am not sure whether the type (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, etc.) one gets matters.

Rodney

>> Epidemiological study associated greater physical decline with low> vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) levels among people aged between 70 and> 80. Other micronutrients could not be associated with the increased> decline.> > Researchers said approximately 15 to 30 mg/d (not IU) of dietary> alpha-tocopherol is needed . . . .this amount can be easily reached> through diet, from sources such as almonds, tomato sauce, and> sunflower seeds among others. They did not recommend supplements.> > Dave> > > +++++++++++++++++++++++++> > link:> > http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=82719 & m=1NIU123 & c=lqeudkujayvvlpc> > > text:> > Low vitamin E levels linked to greater physical decline> > By ls> 1/23/2008- Low blood levels of vitamin E are linked to greater> physical decline in older people, suggests a new study from Yale> University School of Medicine.> > The researchers obtained measures for several micronutrients,> including folate, vitamins B6, B12, D and E, but only the last vitamin> was associated with physical decline for older persons, they report in> the Journal of the American Medical Association.> > "The current study provides empirical evidence that a low> concentration of vitamin E is associated with subsequent decline in> physical function in a population-based sample of older persons living> in the community," wrote lead author Benedetta Bartali.> > "Although the findings from this epidemiological study cannot> establish causality, they provide a solid base that low concentration> of vitamin E contributes to decline in physical function," she added.> > Bartali and co-workers recruited 698 community-living people with an> average age of 73.7 in Tuscany, Italy. A baseline examination was> conducted from November 1998 through May 2000, and the subjects> followed for three years. Physical performance was measured using the> Short Physical Performance Battery, which included three objective> tests of physical function.> > Over this short time period, the researchers recorded a 1.1 point> decline in physical performance, which exceeded the one point level> needed to show a decline.> > The researchers calculated on two determinants of physical decline:> low vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) levels among people aged between 70> and 80, and being older than 81. Levels of other micronutrients were> not associated with declined levels.> > "As the major lipid-soluble antioxidant, vitamin E plays a critical> role in the defense from oxidative stress by donating electrons and> neutralizing free radicals," wrote Bartali. "Low concentrations of> vitamin E may affect this neutralization by creating an imbalance> between oxidants and antioxidants and, consequently, a highly reactive> milieu.> > "Because molecular oxygen promptly accepts unpaired electrons to form> reactive oxygen species, this imbalance may lead to excessive> formation of reactive oxygen species and, consequently, to oxidative> stress that may cause lipid peroxidation and DNA, muscle, and neuronal> damage.> > "This chain of events may explain, at least in part, our findings on> the association between low concentrations of vitamin E and subsequent> decline in physical function," she added.> > The researchers go on to propose three mechanisms which could explain> the relationship between low vitamin E levels and the decline in> physical function: The increased level of oxidative stress could> result in damage to muscle or DNA; there could be an exacerbation of> atherosclerosis or other pathologic conditions; and an increase in> neurodegenerative disorders.> > Bartali and co-workers note that the subjects did not take vitamin> supplements and added that they did not recommend vitamin E> supplements to increase levels.> > "Approximately 15 to 30 mg/d of dietary alpha-tocopherol [a component> of vitamin E] is needed … this amount can be easily reached through> diet, from sources such as almonds, tomato sauce, and sunflower seeds> among others," stated the researchers.> > "Clinical trials may be warranted to determine whether optimal> concentration of vitamin E reduces functional decline and the onset of> disability in older persons with a low concentration of vitamin E,"> they concluded.> > There are eight forms of vitamin E: four tocopherols (alpha, beta,> gamma, delta) and four tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta).> Alpha-tocopherol (alpha-Toc) is the main source found in supplements> and in the European diet, while gamma-tocopherol (gamma-Toc) is the> most common form in the American diet.> > Source: Journal of the American Medical Association> 2008, Volume 299, Issue 3, Pages 308-315> "Serum Micronutrient Concentrations and Decline in Physical Function> Among Older Persons"> Authors: B. Bartali, E.A. Frongillo, J.M. Guralnik, M.H. Stipanuk,> H.G. Allore, A. Cherubini, S. Bandinelli, L. Ferrucci, T.M. Gill>

[Guest guest]

Rodney,

Article says they ruled out other micronutrients, but of course there

may have been other micronutrients at work, (either alone or working

synergistically with Vit E) that we don't even know about yet.

I think it is always prudent to get these beneficial nutrients from

whole foods whenever possible.

There was a study in the past that showed a detrimental effect of vit

E supplementation, and I have seen the blame for this placed on the

study using the alpha form only. I think the gamma-type of E is most

common in our diet. If I were supplementing vit E I would be taking

the full-spectrum high-gamma type, with both the tocopherol and

tocotrienol forms included.

Dave

> >

> > Epidemiological study associated greater physical decline with low

> > vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) levels among people aged between 70 and

> > 80. Other micronutrients could not be associated with the increased

> > decline.

> >

> > Researchers said approximately 15 to 30 mg/d (not IU) of dietary

> > alpha-tocopherol is needed . . . .this amount can be easily reached

> > through diet, from sources such as almonds, tomato sauce, and

> > sunflower seeds among others. They did not recommend supplements.

> >

> > Dave

> >

> >

> > +++++++++++++++++++++++++

> >

> > link:

> >

> >

>

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=82719 & m=1NIU123 & c=lqeu\

> dkujayvvlpc

> >

> >

> > text:

> >

> > Low vitamin E levels linked to greater physical decline

> >

> > By ls

> > 1/23/2008- Low blood levels of vitamin E are linked to greater

> > physical decline in older people, suggests a new study from Yale

> > University School of Medicine.

> >

> > The researchers obtained measures for several micronutrients,

> > including folate, vitamins B6, B12, D and E, but only the last vitamin

> > was associated with physical decline for older persons, they report in

> > the Journal of the American Medical Association.

> >

> > " The current study provides empirical evidence that a low

> > concentration of vitamin E is associated with subsequent decline in

> > physical function in a population-based sample of older persons living

> > in the community, " wrote lead author Benedetta Bartali.

> >

> > " Although the findings from this epidemiological study cannot

> > establish causality, they provide a solid base that low concentration

> > of vitamin E contributes to decline in physical function, " she added.

> >

> > Bartali and co-workers recruited 698 community-living people with an

> > average age of 73.7 in Tuscany, Italy. A baseline examination was

> > conducted from November 1998 through May 2000, and the subjects

> > followed for three years. Physical performance was measured using the

> > Short Physical Performance Battery, which included three objective

> > tests of physical function.

> >

> > Over this short time period, the researchers recorded a 1.1 point

> > decline in physical performance, which exceeded the one point level

> > needed to show a decline.

> >

> > The researchers calculated on two determinants of physical decline:

> > low vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) levels among people aged between 70

> > and 80, and being older than 81. Levels of other micronutrients were

> > not associated with declined levels.

> >

> > " As the major lipid-soluble antioxidant, vitamin E plays a critical

> > role in the defense from oxidative stress by donating electrons and

> > neutralizing free radicals, " wrote Bartali. " Low concentrations of

> > vitamin E may affect this neutralization by creating an imbalance

> > between oxidants and antioxidants and, consequently, a highly reactive

> > milieu.

> >

> > " Because molecular oxygen promptly accepts unpaired electrons to form

> > reactive oxygen species, this imbalance may lead to excessive

> > formation of reactive oxygen species and, consequently, to oxidative

> > stress that may cause lipid peroxidation and DNA, muscle, and neuronal

> > damage.

> >

> > " This chain of events may explain, at least in part, our findings on

> > the association between low concentrations of vitamin E and subsequent

> > decline in physical function, " she added.

> >

> > The researchers go on to propose three mechanisms which could explain

> > the relationship between low vitamin E levels and the decline in

> > physical function: The increased level of oxidative stress could

> > result in damage to muscle or DNA; there could be an exacerbation of

> > atherosclerosis or other pathologic conditions; and an increase in

> > neurodegenerative disorders.

> >

> > Bartali and co-workers note that the subjects did not take vitamin

> > supplements and added that they did not recommend vitamin E

> > supplements to increase levels.

> >

> > " Approximately 15 to 30 mg/d of dietary alpha-tocopherol [a component

> > of vitamin E] is needed … this amount can be easily reached

> through

> > diet, from sources such as almonds, tomato sauce, and sunflower seeds

> > among others, " stated the researchers.

> >

> > " Clinical trials may be warranted to determine whether optimal

> > concentration of vitamin E reduces functional decline and the onset of

> > disability in older persons with a low concentration of vitamin E, "

> > they concluded.

> >

> > There are eight forms of vitamin E: four tocopherols (alpha, beta,

> > gamma, delta) and four tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta).

> > Alpha-tocopherol (alpha-Toc) is the main source found in supplements

> > and in the European diet, while gamma-tocopherol (gamma-Toc) is the

> > most common form in the American diet.

> >

> > Source: Journal of the American Medical Association

> > 2008, Volume 299, Issue 3, Pages 308-315

> > " Serum Micronutrient Concentrations and Decline in Physical Function

> > Among Older Persons "

> > Authors: B. Bartali, E.A. Frongillo, J.M. Guralnik, M.H. Stipanuk,

> > H.G. Allore, A. Cherubini, S. Bandinelli, L. Ferrucci, T.M. Gill

> >

>