Vitamin E 'may ward off decline'

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Vitamin E 'may ward off decline'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7204293.stm

Vitamin E may help prevent tissue damage

Vitamin E may ward off physical decline in elderly people, research

suggests.

Researchers found people aged over 65 who had lower levels of

vitamin E performed worse on tests of basic physical ability.

The key may be that vitamin E is an antioxidant, protecting the

body's tissues from damage caused by charged particles called free

radicals.

The Yale University School of Medicine study appears in the Journal

of the American Medical Association.

The researchers measured levels of vitamins in the blood of 698

volunteers from areas around the Italian city of Florence.

The volunteers' performance on three physical tests - a short walk,

balance and standing up from a seated position - were monitored over

a three-year period.

While the researchers found an association between vitamin E and

performance, their work suggested no such link with other essential

vitamins, such as folate, B6, B12 and D.

Diet key

Lead researcher Dr Benedetta Bartali said: " The odds of declining in

physical function was 1.62 times greater in persons with low levels

of vitamin E compared with persons with higher levels.

" Our results suggest that an appropriate dietary intake of vitamin E

may help to reduce the decline in physical function among older

persons.

" Since only one person in our study used vitamin E supplements, it

is unknown whether the use of vitamin E supplements would have the

same beneficial effect. "

Dr Bartali said it was unlikely that vitamin E is simply a marker

for poor nutrition because the results were independent of energy

intake.

The researchers said they did not set out to identify exactly why

vitamin E might help keep the body healthy.

But they point out that as well as its antioxidant effect, the

vitamin is involved in the formation of red blood cells.

Vitamin E can be found in foods including wheat germ, soya, nuts,

seeds, olives, and green leafy vegetables such as spinach and

asparagus.

Scientists have been examining the role vitamin E may play in

preventing or treating certain health conditions including cancer

and heart disease.

But some research has indicated very high amounts of vitamin E can

be harmful, raising one's overall risk of death.

The UK's Food Standards Agency recommends that men should eat a

healthy, balanced diet containing 4mg of vitamin E a day. For women

the figure is 3mg a day.

on, a nutrition scientist at the British Nutrition

Foundation, said further research would be needed to confirm the

findings.

She also stressed that vitamin E deficiency was rare.

However, she said: " We know from dietary surveys that many older

people have an inadequate intake of vitamins and minerals and

dietary improvements are needed.

" Good nutrition can have a profound impact on healthy life

expectancy and a good diet can help improve the quality of life in

older adults. "