Vitamin E

Short-term supplementation at varying doses is safe and free of significant adverse events in healthy adults 65 and older, Simin Nikbin Meydani, Tufts University, et al., report in the August American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 88 healthy older adults, the researchers examined the effects on general health of 60, 200 and 800 IU vitamin E (all-rac-alpha-tocopheral) administered daily for four months. Meydani et al. conclude supplemental vitamin E up to 800 mg per day "does not have an adverse effect on hepatic or renal function, intermediary metabolism, hematologic status, plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, bleeding time, plasma vitamins, serum trace elements, serum autoantibody concentrations or the ability of neutrophils to kill C. albicans in healthy older subjects." The vitamin E and soybean oil placebo capsules used were provided by Roche Vitamins...