Making Sense of
New Study...
It’s only when many trials were combined into one big meta-analysis("supertrial") that it became evident.
There is ample proof that Alpha-Tocopherol can become deadly, NOT Vitamin E!Alpha Tocopherol is Not "Vitamin E"
The focal point in understanding an apparent change of heart, a growing rift within Health Community, Nutrition and Supplement Industry, and Risk/Benefit ratio of taking Vitamin E Supplements, is one of deceit perpetuated on population at large. To understand this, you’ll need to realize that supplements commonly labeled "vitamin E", including those used in nineteen clinical trials which were basis of a meta-analysis, underlying newly realized increase in death rate due to high dose supplementation, are mislabeled and misleading. They do not contain "vitamin E", simple fact being, there’s no such thing. Alpha-tocopherol is no more "vitamin E" than folic acid, riboflavin or pyridoxine on their own can be called "vitamin B". As it is with "vitamin B", "vitamin E" is a complex of several member molecules, each having an important role and proper ratio. The Vitamin E Complex is a family of eight molecules, four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. These eight E-complex family members work synergistically, within body to support healthy function of organs, tissues, and provide protection from free radical damage; as well, they support assimilation and utilization of other nutrients. Even "vitamin E" sold as complete "with mixed tocopherols", still delivers only half of E-complex, leaving you missing all four highly beneficial tocotrienols. On top of this, ratios of different tocopherols contained in most "mixed tocopherols" supplements are at best, dangerously unbalanced. These products typically contain an average five times as much alpha-tocopherol as other three tocopherols combined. These such formulations pretty much guarantees that you won’t gain any health benefits from these other vitamin E molecules.
It has now become fact based knowledge, that excessive supplementation of alpha-tocopherol depletes your body of other E-complex vitamins, cheating you of their benefits. In fact, when alpha-tocopherol is taken at doses typical of most "vitamin E" supplements, counterbalancing it with proper ratio, or even an equal amount of other E vitamin E complex, isn’t enough to prevent this supplement induced deficiency. The excessive alpha-tocopherol still drives out gamma, leaving your levels around 30% below that of a average, non-supplemented diet. Not only does this lower level of other E-complex molecules in your body, too much alpha-tocopherol can directly counteract some of unique effects of other E vitamin molecules if they exist at all in your diet or supplements. So how much is too much? The “high dose” referred to in trials was (> 400 IU) and results were clear: people taking 400 IU or more of alpha-tocopherol per day, actually increase their risk of death.
