Vitamin E

Vitamins > Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a major anti-oxidant nutrient; it retards cellular aging due to oxidation; supplies oxygen to the blood which is then carried to the heart and other organs; thus alleviating fatigue; aids in bringing nourishment to cells; strengthens the capillary walls & prevents the red blood cells from destructive poisons; prevents & dissolves blood clots; has also been used by doctors in helping prevent sterility, muscular dystrophy, calcium deposits in blood walls and heart conditions.

Deficiency may lead to a rupture of red blood cells, loss of reproductive powers, lack of sexual vitality, abnormal fat deposits in muscles, degenerative changes in the changes in the heart and other muscles; dry skin.

Researchers have found a connection between poor memory and low blood levels of vitamin E in an elderly population.

People who ate inadequately or skipped meals also had greater memory loss than those who ate regularly, according to the study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Dietary changes may be a way of easing the problem, suggest the researchers, headed by Dr. Anthony J. Perkins of the Regenstrief Institute for Health Care and the Indiana University Center for Aging Research in Indianapolis.

The investigators examined the association between blood levels of antioxidants, including vitamins A, C and E, and selenium, and memory in a multiethnic population of senior citizens.

Antioxidants help provide protection against free radical damage. Free radicals, produced during normal metabolic processes, are thought to cause oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress has been implicated both in the aging process and in the pathological changes associated with Alzheimer's disease," note Perkins and his colleagues.

The researchers examined 4,809 people aged 60 or older between 1988 and 1994. They conducted two simple memory tests, blood tests, and gathered information on the subjects' backgrounds.

Overall, 7% of the group had poor memory. These people were at least twice as likely to report problems managing their money or preparing meals.

Among those with vitamin E levels lower than 4.8 per unit of cholesterol, 11% had poor memory. In contrast, just 4% of people with levels higher than 7.2 had memory problems.

"Increasing levels of vitamin E were associated with better memory performance for this ethnically diverse elderly population," the study authors write.

Among those who said they did not eat enough food or skipped meals, almost 20% had poor memory, as opposed to 7% among people who ate regularly.

The study findings link vitamin E from diet, rather than from supplements, to memory. The researchers report that they found no connection between the other antioxidants and memory loss.

But the research team also notes that because the study did not look at causes, "we do not know if low (blood) levels of vitamin E preceded the onset of poor memory or that low levels of vitamin E are a result of having poor memory."

Most previous studies have not found a link between vitamin deficiencies and memory. However, the researchers noted, many of these studies had a limited range of subjects who were mostly Caucasian, well-educated and higher income levels -- all factors linked to better memory retention.

SOURCE: American Journal of Epidemiology 1999;150:37-44.

SPECIAL NOTE: There are several types of Vitamin E available. D-Alpha Tocopherol (100% Natural) is 4 times more potent in biological activity than d1-Alpha Tocopherol (Synthetic) Vitamin E. For example; 100 I.U. of d-Alpha (100% Natural) Vitamin E is equal to 400 I.U. d1-Alpha Tocopherol (Synthetic) Vitamin E in biological activity. Natural Vitamin E is derived from soybeans and synthetic Vitamin E is a petroleum by-product.

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