Vitamin E Is More Than Just An Antioxidant

Research Demonstrates A Variety Of Benefits Provided By Vitamin E

Vitamin E was discovered 80 years ago and is best known as an antioxidant that may reduce oxidative stress associated with the development of coronary heart disease. Although the totality of research supports health benefits from vitamin E, many scientists have been puzzled by the conflicting findings of recent clinical trials.

A group of leading vitamin E researchers reviewed much of the scientific evidence on the role of vitamin E in human health and disease prevention. They evaluated the various forms of vitamin E in terms of absorption, transport and metabolism. They noted that most researchers have focused on the antioxidant properties of vitamin E, rather than what else vitamin E might be doing in tissues.  Vitamin E has many important non-antioxidant functions in the body that are just starting to be understood, such as anticoagulant (blood thinning) properties, anti-inflammatory action, effects on gene regulation and immune function. 

The researchers noted that the clinical trials of vitamin E in heart disease were designed to observe the reversal rather than the prevention of disease, and disease reversal is likely to require a different strategy than antioxidant protection for prevention. Most of the clinical trials showed some benefit of vitamin E in reducing the risk of heart attack or cardiovascular death, even though the type of benefit was not always identical. In addition, vitamin E supplements, as antioxidants or through other mechanisms, may reduce the risk of prostate cancer and be of benefit in people with either cystic fibrosis or preclampsia.

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