This is the headline on a BBC story today, April 16, 2008. This comes from a Cochrane Collaboration review of many studies. While this does sound alarming I have been around long enough to think that there is probably quite a bit more to this story than it appears. Take the case of Vitamin E. I remember 20 years ago Vitamin E was known in alternative circles to help with circulation and the heart (see sidebar) at the time this was completely dismissed by mainstream medicine. Then studies came out showing its benefit. Now there are studies suggesting it might be harmful. What are we to believe?
We know that Vitamin E is not just one vitamin. The name for vitamine E is tocopherol. There are at least 4 major tocopherols and four related tocotrienols. Most Vitamin E sold is either synthetic (DL-α tochopherol) or natural all alpha tocohperol. Humans seen to need mainly γ (gamma) tocohperol. The preferred form of Vitamin E is a mixture of all four tocopherols with high levels of gamma tocopherol.
| A new study published in the August 13, 2007 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine found that vitamins E and C, when taken together, result in a significant reduction in the risk of strokes (31 percent) and heart attacks (22 percent). The study followed 8,171 women who were instructed to take relatively small amounts of these vitamins for more than nine years (600 IU of vitamin E, 500mg of vitamin C and 50mg of beta carotene were taken every other day -- a very small dose according to most modern nutritionists). |
Vitamin E is found in whole nuts and seeds including whole grains. It is quite fragile and is destroyed by heat and exposure to air. It is removed by milling grains and destroyed by heat processing in grocery store oils.
I frequently find that alpha tocopherol will weaken while mixed tocopherols and especially gamma tochoperol will strengthen an idicator muscle. The studies quoted above do not indicate what form of vitamins these people were taking, but the likelihood is that they were taking synthetic or soy derived alpha tocopherol only at best. This in typical of bogus research promoted in the name of science.
The same thing can be said of the other antioxidant vitamins. Each of these vitamins has several forms and numerous co-factors. The cheapest is often not the most easily metabolized. And they work together. Sometimes a single nutrient is missing but more often there is a consetellation.
And, of course, the best source of all vitamins is fresh food, particularly lots of fresh vegetables. Some people won't eat vegetables. Some people need a theraputic dose for a period of time that they simply can't get from normal food. And the food that is available in most grocery stores has been grown on nutient depeleted soil, with chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, and trucked thousands of miles to it's destination.
I have personally seen significant improvement in patients with the correct use of these antioxidant vitamins. But there are two important requirements: The right form of the vitamin, in the right dose, for the right patient.
There is no doubt that the best way to get vitamins is by eating whole. fresh, preferrably local and organic, foods with lots of vegetables. The depletion of soils and the fact that most vegetables are transported thousands of miles to market mean that the nutrients in our food supply are dwindling. At the same time the need for nutrients increases with toxic exposure and stress.
- Eat your vegetables.
- Shop at the farmer's market or natural food store if possible.
- Use high quality, moderate dose vitamins.
- Get checked to see if they are appropriate for you.
- Wait for further news -- this story is not over.
Unraveling the lies about the antioxidant study on vitamins E and C This is a somwhat technical discussion of the statistical methodology and political motivations involved in these studies.
Dr. Manlove
© 2009 George Manlove, DC All rights reserved.
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