Vitamin E Supplement May Reduce Lung Disease Risk : Vitamins

Article by Kevin Agrawal

A healthy dose of Vitamin E as part of a daily vitamin regimen may offer a host of healthy benefits for promoting fitness and wellbeing particularly of the heart, lung, and immune system, according to steady stream of epidemiological research and clinical trials. Recent research has been shedding light on Vitamin E’s extensive role in promoting respiratory health.Science-Supported Vitamin E Benefits for Lung HealthA Cornell University study, led by Dr. Anne Hermetet Agler of the Division of Nutritional Sciences, analyzed the data of 38,597 women (smokers and non-smokers alike) who participated in a Women’s Health Study (WHS) that focused on the potential effects aspirin and vitamin E may have on cardiovascular disease and cancer. Female health professionals, aged 45 or older, participated in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Each received either a Vitamin E supplement (600 IU every other day) plus aspirin (100 mg every other day) or a placebo. During the ten-year follow-up, researchers documented new cases of chronic lung disease in the two control groups. At the end of the study, in 2004, the group that received Vitamin E supplementation reported only 760 new cases as compared to the placebo group that reported 846 new cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The inference drawn from the analysis suggests that Vitamin E supplementation may reduce the onset of COPD, irrespective of the smoking status, by 10 percent in women over 45. The study’s findings were published in the journal, Thorax.1Men, however, do not seem to get the same benefits from Vitamin E supplementation according to Dr. Patricia Cassano, PhD, an associate professor of Nutritional Epidemiology at Cornell University. Analyzing data from the SELECT (Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial) that evaluated the effects of Vitamin E and Selenium on prostate cancer and other diseases in more than 35,500 men, Dr. Cassano found that Vitamin E, neither alone or in combination with selenium, showed any improvement in reducing the risk of COPD in men, as compared to a placebo.2-3 The reason women tend to benefit more from Vitamin E supplementation is not clear, but Dr. Agler suggests it may be because women tend to have higher HDL (good cholesterol) than men. Since cells in the lung preferentially take up Vitamin E from HDL, women show higher benefits from Vitamin E supplementation than men.Lung Disease: Its Prevalence and Risk FactorsThe National Institutes of Health lists COPD, also known as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, as one of the major causes of disability and the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Currently there are over 12 million people diagnosed with COPD and it is estimated that another 12 million may have COPD but not realize it. Both men and women suffer from COPD. Symptoms include a chronic cough, wheezing and shortness of breath. Cigarette smoking is listed as the most common cause of COPD accounting for 9 out of 10 COPD-related deaths. Other risk factors include long-term exposure to pollutants that irritate the lungs, such as certain chemicals, dust, or fumes in the workplace, or exposure to secondhand smoke.4Observational studies have consistently reported an association between high antioxidant status in lung tissues with low risk of COPD and asthma. Scientists theorize that the imbalance of oxidant/antioxidant in lung tissues may raise the risk of COPD.5 How Vitamin E Works to Protect Lung HealthVitamin E is an antioxidant vitamin that has long been studied for its potential preventive role in lung disease. As an antioxidant, Vitamin E is able to inhibit the oxidation of other molecules, thus reducing the production of unstable, harmful molecules, called free radicals. Free radicals are formed when the body converts food to energy, inhales cigarette smoke, or is exposed to air pollution and ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Free radical activity results in cellular damage and is one of the proposed reasons for the development of lung disease and other degenerative diseases. Antioxidants, particularly Vitamin E, help to protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals.Other Benefits of Vitamin E SupplementationGiven the sufficient body of evidence suggesting Vitamin E’s role in helping to promote respiratory health, high-quality supplement contract manufacturing, could be the solution for supplement business owners to boost their sales of Vitamin E supplements. Vitamin E also shows great potential benefits for:Heart Health – Vitamin E is believed to protect low density lipoprotein-cholesterol from oxidation. Epidemiological studies suggest that a higher intake of Vitamin E is associated with reduced risk of heart disease and cardiac deaths.6-7 Eye Health – A daily Vitamin E intake of 400 IUs combined with Vitamin C, beta cartone, zinc, copper for an average of 6.3 years could retard the progression of early-stage AMD according to a large, randomized clinical tried called the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS).8 Immune Health – Vitamin E plays a vital role for optimal immune functions and supplementation of Vitamin E is known to enhance immune response.9 A Vitamin E intake (200 IU to 800 IU) is associated with reduced rates of infection in the elderly, particularly age-related respiratory infections.10Manufacturing Vitamin E SupplementsIn the past Vitamin E supplement sales have suffered due to negative publicity, much of which had to do with discredited research studies. Commenting on these studies, Dr. Andrew Shao, senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) says, “These analyses of very specific and narrow segments of the population do not address the vitamin E inadequacy of the American diet.” He further states that supplementation still plays an important role in filling this gap for Americans.11 Although true deficiency of Vitamin E is rare, marginal intake of Vitamin E in the United States is extremely prevalent. The survey results published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association (2004) reveals that 90 percent of adults in the United States do not meet the daily recommendations for Vitamin E. 12Being a fat-soluble vitamin, the typical delivery form of Vitamin E is a gel capsule. Natural or synthetic Vitamin E can be derived from a variety of sources, such as rice bran and palm oil, and can be manufactured using different methods of extraction. While the synthetic process is the most cost-effective, the natural extraction process is done without chemicals and therefore gains the “green” advantage.Not only will supplement contract manufacturing help you meet consumer need for Vitamin E supplements, but more advanced studies on all eight forms of Vitamin E and their potential synergistic effects on health can be used to design science-backed formulas that target condition-specific benefits. Work with a knowledgeable, GMP-certified supplement manufacturer to meet your needs for well-researched, premium-quality Vitamin E supplements. References:

Randomised vitamin E supplementation and risk of chronic lung disease in the Women’s Health Study, Thorax. 2011 Apr;66(4):320-5. Epub 2011 Jan 21. PMCID: PMC3062677. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21257986Supplemental Se and Vitamin E and Pulmonary Function, Dr. Patricia A. Cassano, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. labome.org/grant/r01/hl/supplemental/se/supplemental-se-and-vitamin-e-and-pulmonary-function-7266295.htmlEffect of selenium and vitamin E on risk of prostate cancer and other cancers: the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT), JAMA. 2009 Jan 7;301(1):39-51. Epub 2008 Dec 9. PMID: 19066370. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19066370Learn More about COPD, National Institutes of Health, nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/copd/Antioxidant therapies in COPD, Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2006;1(1):15-29. PMCID: PMC2706605. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18046899Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes: Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Carotenoids. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 200.Effects of random allocation to vitamin E supplementation on the occurrence of venous thromboembolism: report from the Women’s Health Study. Circulation 2007;116:1497-1503. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17846285?dopt=Abstract Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group. A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of high-dose supplementation with vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and zinc for age-related macular degeneration and vision loss: AREDS report no. 8. Arch Ophthalmol 2001;119:1417-36. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11594942?dopt=Abstract Vitamin E and immune functions., Basic Life Sci. 1988;49:615-20. PMID: 3074789. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3074789 )Vitamin E and respiratory infection in the elderly, Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Dec;1031:214-22.(Will vitamin E continue its sales slide following new meta-analysis? Nutrition Business Journal, November 2010 newhope360.com/vitamins/will-vitamin-e-continue-its-sales-slide-following-new-meta-analysis )Intake of alpha-tocopherol is limited among US adults. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004;104(4):567-575. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15054342?dopt=Citation

Be My Friend – www.myspace.com Truth about Vitamins & Minerals Supplements Austin Nutrition Joseph explains what the best types of vitamin and mineral supplements are. He explains the differences between synthetic vitamins, natural vitamins, whole food vitamins and whole foods. Natural Vitamin Source Table www.nutritionaustin.com Visits Joseph’s Website at www.nutritionaustin.com This video was produced by Psychetruth http www.youtube.com psychetruth.blogspot.com Psychetruth is empowered by TubeMogul www.tubemogul.com © Copyright 2008 Zoe Sofia. All Rights Reserved.
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