VITAMIN E: ANTIOXIDANT OR NOT?Vitamin E vitamin E or tocopherol Fat-soluble organic compound found principally in certain plant oils and leaves of green vegetables. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant in body tissues and may prolong life by slowing oxidative destruction of membranes. is supposed to be an antioxidant antioxidant, substance that prevents or slows the breakdown of another substance by oxygen. Synthetic and natural antioxidants are used to slow the deterioration of gasoline and rubber, and such antioxidants as vitamin C (ascorbic acid), butylated hydroxytoluene , but it didn't act like one in a small study that actually measured levels of oxidative stress in the body. Daily doses of 200 International Units (IU), 400 IU, 800 IU, 1,200 IU, or 2,000 IU of natural vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol tocopherol: see vitamin. ) failed to reduce levels of free radicals in the urine of healthy people. What to do: Researchers don't know why vitamin E didn't act as an antioxidant in this study. It may only work in smokers, alcohol abusers, and people with Alzheimer's or heart disease or others who are under oxidative stress. But for most people, the new results weaken the argument for taking a vitamin E supplement. The evidence that it prevents heart disease, cancer, or eye problems is also inconclusive. Journal of the American Medical Association JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association is an international peer-reviewed general medical journal, published 48 times per year by the American Medical Association. JAMA is the most widely circulated medical journal in the world. 285:1178, 2001. |
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