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Sun 10 Jul, 2005 09:13 am
From a promotion by David Williams, owner of Alternatives Mag.
"Vitamin E Causes Heart Disease!"
It made headlines on TV and in the papers. Millions of Americans stopped taking their vitamin E after hearing the news. Many more wondered what to do.
I e-mailed my subscribers about this bogus report, and then followed up with a detailed explanation in my next issue.
This "meta-analysis study" selected 19 past studies showing that people who took high doses of vitamin E had higher mortality rates.
The media ran the story without investigating it. But here's what they didn't report . . .
>The researchers selectively chose the 19 studies from more than 6,000 done on vitamin E.
>These studies focused on people already diagnosed with a serious disease, not healthy people trying to prevent one. VITAMIN E HAS NEVER BEEN PROMOTED AS A CURE.
>The increase in mortality was not statistically significant: 39 out of 10,000- -or 3.9%. That could be attributed to any unidentified cause.
>The researchers never indicated whether the vitamin E in the test was synthetic or natural. Previous studies show this does make a difference.
When a "scientist" chooses to ignore 6,000 studies that have shown positive cardiovascular benefits for vitamin E in favor of 19 that indicate an insignificant negative effect, you've got to question that -
End of quote, which I altered slightly but skipping a few sentences that do not affect the meaning. Does anybody have information contradicting what Williams says?
I don't have any knowledge of this issue, but I've always approached the oil soluable vitamins with caution. I'm also cautious of terms like 'mortality rate' without (and I didn't read the full article) full details. Every group has the same mortality rate, ultimately.
I take vitamin E in a high quantity daily and will continue to do so until they prove to me personall that it's harmful.
I don't think all the results are in.
I don't remember details but one of the lastest studies (with a very small sample) showed that Vitamin E might have had a negative effect because of the higher rates of cancer and heart disease than might have been expected.
Wouldn't you be talking about the same studies as David Williams?
This vitamin has been studied to death for decades, and some people take a megadose every day. If it were dangerous to your heart, it would have been discovered long ago.
I think they are afraid people will keep themselves too healthy to buy designer drugs from cradle to grave.
I cannot remember where I read it, and it wasn't that long ago, but I do remember the article saying that 400 IU was the "correct" dosage of Vitamin E to be taken daily.
I take 1000 IU daily. Would that be considered in the realm of what you take on a daily basis, edgar? I have never had any ill effects at this dosage.
Lady J wrote:I cannot remember where I read it, and it wasn't that long ago, but I do remember the article saying that 400 IU was the "correct" dosage of Vitamin E to be taken daily.
I take 1000 IU daily. Would that be considered in the realm of what you take on a daily basis, edgar? I have never had any ill effects at this dosage.
Without checking, I believe that the last time I looked 15 or 20 years ago, the RDA was 30 IU. Even 400 IU is a huge megadose, but people do it every day.
I dont take it as a tablet but I use vitamin e face/skin creams, should I be concerned?
I take about 1,500 IU with zinc and magnesium, because I have had skin cancer. That combination keeps the blood flowing motre safely than aspirin.
Vitamin E is such a part of most daily diets, I doubt if anyone has a deficiency--
but with the antioxidant properties it contains, I do take 400IU daily, even with using a lot of soybean and olive oil in cooking and meals.
I really think they are speaking of 1000IU or more when they say 'mega dose'.
BREAKING NEWS
EU vitamin ban stands
By PETE BELL
Sun Online
CONTROVERSIAL Euro-laws which would outlaw thousands of vitamin and mineral supplements were upheld by European Court judges today.
The European Court of Justice threw out British health food industry claims that the proposed Food Supplements Directive, due to come into force on August 1, was against European law.
The surprise decision goes against a ruling by the same court's advocate-general in April, advising that the rules should be scrapped because they contravene basic EU principles of "legal protection, legal certainty and sound administration".
But today, judges decided the new plans - designed to tighten controls on the sale of health foods - can go ahead.
Companies have to submit natural remedies, vitamin supplements and mineral plant extracts - many already in use in UK - for approval and inclusion on a list of recognised food supplements.
The European Court judges said: "A 'positive list' system is appropriate for securing the free movement of food supplements and ensuring the protection of human health".
Britons spend £300million on health food supplements
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