Contact: Caron Blitz; Blitz & Associates, Inc.
847/945-0101
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vitamin E Supplements Safe and Effective
April 2, 1997, LaGrange, IL -- Vitamin E supplements are safe, effective in preventing degenerative diseases and should be part of a healthy lifestyle, a leading supplier of natural vitamin E said today in response to confusing media reports on a new, but small laboratory study.
The study, "y-Tocopherol traps mutagenic electrophiles such as Nox and complements a-tocopherol: Physiological implications," is published in the April 1 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Henkel Corporation supplied the gamma-tocopherol for the study.
Confusing interpretations of this study resulted from an inaccurate Associated Press report released on March 31. The study's lead author, Stephan Christen, PhD, visiting postdoctoral researcher at the University of California at Berkeley, said many of his quotes in the AP report are "incorrect." "The reporter has blown the information he was given out of proportion to make the story newsworthy," Christen said. "I never said that taking more than 100 IU's of vitamin E is harmful. What I did say is that people taking a higher dose of vitamin E supplements with only alpha-tocopherol may not be realizing the full benefit of one also containing gamma-tocopherol, but I would never say that vitamin E is harmful based on the evidence we have to date," he emphasized.
"What this test-tube study shows is that the gamma-tocopherol form of vitamin E may be beneficial in fighting against one particular type of reactive species in a universe with hundreds of different oxidants," said Manfred Dunker, PhD, Vice President and General Manager of Henkel Corporation. "Even though gamma- tocopherol is common in the diet, the body preferentially retains the alpha-tocopherol form found in most vitamin E supplements. This is not new," Dr. Dunker explained.
He also added that it's important to remember that for years vitamin E studies involving thousands of people show that the alpha-tocopherol form of vitamin E is beneficial and is safe in amounts averaging 400 IU.
From a positive perspective, this preliminary research may provide a lead to better define a biological role for gamma-tocopherol. It suggests that its unique reaction to detoxify "peroxynitrite" may allow it to function in reducing the effects of peroxynitrite-derived free radicals.
Natural vitamin E products from Henkel have always contained some gamma- tocopherol, and a special product has been available for more than 20 years containing approximately 10 percent gamma-tocopherol, in addition to alpha-tocopherol.
Lester Packer, PhD, a pioneer in antioxidant research also at UC Berkeley, is concerned about the conclusions the public may be reaching from this study. "The work is interesting, but the totality of evidence absolutely outweighs any suggestion from the study that vitamin E supplements may not be beneficial. One would be foolish not to supplement their diet with vitamin E based on the compelling work that's been done," Packer said. "The research findings are in-vitro and it remains to be seen whether the same effects occur in the body," he added.
Just months ago, the American Heart Association named vitamin E as one of the most noteworthy accomplishments in 1996. Important research supporting the role of vitamin E includes a benchmark study of 2,000 patients with heart disease. In the study published in the Lancet, natural vitamin E supplements reduced heart attacks by a dramatic 75 percent. Two Harvard studies, involving a total of about 135,000 health professionals, found that those who took daily supplements of vitamin E had one-fourth to one-third less coronary risk than those who did not take the supplements. In yet another study of 11,178 individuals over 65, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vitamin E supplements lowered total mortality rates by 27 percent, reduced the risk of heart disease mortality by 41 percent and decreased cancer mortality by 22 percent.
Henkel is a leading supplier of natural antioxidant raw materials ingredients. Its premium antioxidants are found in supplements manufactured by all major vitamin companies and sold at fine health stores, pharmacies and other retail outlets. The Henkel antioxidants include Covitol natural-source vitamin E; Betatene natural beta-carotene and mixed carotenoids; Lipoec alpha-lipoic acid; and Covi-ox natural mixed tocopherols. Recently, Henkel added Pcynogenol French maritime pine bark extract to its family of antioxidant products.
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