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Vitamin E Complex

by W. H. Leong

cientists identified vitamin E about 80 years ago but only in the past few decades has its power as an antioxidant been revealed and fully appreciated. Vitamin E is a generic term describing a group of compounds called tocopherols and tocotrienols.

Until recently, most vitamin E products contained only tocopherols (alpha-, beta-, gamma- and deltatocopherol). But this is changing as researchers also have identified unique health properties of tocotrienols (alpha-, beta-, gamma- and deltatocotrienol). Tocotrienols may be the most powerful of the vitamin E antioxidants.

Several studies have shown that vitamin E improves the immune system, especially in the elderly. With age, the immune system becomes less efficient at fighting off microbes and viruses. Part of this decline may be due to low levels of vitamin E in the bloodstream. Some studies have shown improved immune responses in older people who take vitamin E supplements. Vitamin E may also slow the effects of aging by protecting cells from free radical damage.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study at Tufts University and published in the Journal of American Medical Association, daily supplementation with vitamin E enhances immunity in healthy elderly subjects. The antioxidant vitamin E inhibits prostaglandin E2 production and significantly improves certain clinically relevant in vivo indexes of cell-mediated immune response. Subjects who supplemented vitamin E antioxidant at 200 mg/day had a 65 percent increase in delayed-type hypersensitivity skin response (DTH) and a significant increase in the amount of antibody made in response to hepatitis B and tetanus vaccine compared with placebo. Elderly people can bolster their resistance to infection by taking daily vitamin E supplements.

To realize vitamin E’s full health benefits in enhancing the immune system one really needs both tocopherols and tocotrienols—“The Vitamin E Complex”—as the most complete and balanced vitamin E formula. Visit Web sites: www.carotech.net and www.tocotrienol.org

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