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Vitamin E supplements: They’re good—but they could be even better

05 August 2006

Vitamin E supplements: They’re good—but they could be even better

Vitamin E has had a slippery ride since its discovery in 1922, when it was hailed as a virtual cure-all. Our bodies can’t make vitamin E; we have to obtain it from either food or supplements. Soya and wheatgerm oils are concentrated natural sources, and it’s also plentiful in nuts and grains, so deficiency is rare. Nevertheless, those on low-fat diets or who have trouble absorbing fats may not be getting enough.
Four tocopherols and four tocotrienols make up the vitamin E family. Foods contain all eight, whereas most vitamin E supplements contain only alpha-tocopherol, which nutritionists believe the body absorbs most (Curr Med Chem, 2004; 11: 1113– 33). The full impact of supplementing with only one member of the E family over the others is not fully known. But we may be missing out on important benefits.
For example, tocotrienols, widely available in whole grains, may have a role in preventin...

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