Study Shows Healthy People Don’t Need Vitamin E Supplements

We are all familiar with the recommendations that we top up our vitamin intake with supplements when necessary. Not everyone gets all the vitamins and minerals the body needs from their daily diet. But are those supplements always necessary?

Some people take Vitamin E supplements because they believe they reduce the risk of heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease, while boosting the antioxidants essential for the immune system. To date, there has been little research to confirm or quash the claims made on behalf of vitamin E supplements.

Now an American study has found that vitamin E supplements may not have any effect on people who are already healthy and well-nourished. The research, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, involved 30 healthy men and women aged from 18 to 60. each was given either a vitamin E supplement or a placebo pill daily for two months.

Tests of the participants’ urine before, during and after the trial period measured the oxidation in cells, an indication of whether the supplements were offering increased antioxidant protection in addition to what participants were already getting in their diet. The results showed no significant changes in the oxidant indicators, suggesting the supplements have little or nothing to offer healthy people on a well-balanced diet who will already be getting the vitamin E that the body needs.

To ensure you are getting enough vitamin E, you should eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes vitamin E-rich foods. Some examples include almonds and vegetables oils such as olive and rapeseed along with margarine. There are smaller amounts of vitamin E in whole grains, vegetables and fruits. Wheat germ has a very high vitamin E content and can be added to baking and on to cereals for an added boost.