The FDA's Outdated Science on Vitamin E

Vitamin E occurs naturally in nuts, some greens and oils.  There are eight different compounds that make up vitamin E—four tocopherols (alpha, beta, delta, and gamma) and four tocotrienols (alpha, beta, delta, and gamma). 

The FDA has traditionally only recognized one form, alpha-tocopherol, as biologically active.

The FDA’s thinking originates from the idea that vitamin E is only good for preventing infertility in rats.  Since alpha-tocopherol is the best at this, it is the only form considered to be “active” by the FDA.

Complete vitamin E is good for far more than fertility. Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant, immune system booster, blood clot preventer and vessel dilator.  It’s also an extremely complex nutrient.   

Natural vitamin E is much more potent than its synthetic "cousin". People need 50% more synthetic dl-alpha-tocopherol to obtain the same amount of the nutrient as they would from the natural equivalent (d-alpha-tocopherol).

Most of what is in dietary supplements is synthetic dl-alpha-tocopherol.  The "di", means that it is a synthetic vitamin E. When dl-alpha-tocopherol is synthesized, it produces eight isomers, seven of which are completely random byproducts of a chemical process.

To ignore the all-important gamma-tocopherol form of vitamin E makes no sense, considering  what’s known about the science. This form is not only the most common form in foods and the most important antioxidant tocopherol.

According to the Life Extension Foundation, tocotrienols can provide anti-aging benefits and reduce the risk of stroke. Tocotrienols are among the most useful nutrients for preventing neurodegeneration of the brain, a key factor for Alzheimer’s and dementia. Additionally, animal studies on tocotrienols show that they can inhibit breast, prostate, pancreas, skin, lung, liver, and colon cancer. Some of them may have a positive effect on hair loss.

It’s best to avoid supplementing with alpha-tocopherol alone.  It can interfere with your body’s use of gamma-tocopherol, and may even increase the risk of certain cancers (hence, the “Vitamin E Causes Cancer!” headlines).

For More Information:

http://www.anh-usa.org/fda-flubs-again-on-vitamin-e/