AMA - Womens Health Study Confirms that Vitamin E is Safe and Good for the Heart

New study supports the benefits of Vitamin E

A study of Womens Health, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association's July 6, 2005 edition confirms not only the safety of Vitamin E, but also specific heart health benefits for women.

This study, called the Womens Health Study (WHS), is particularly significant since it is the largest and longest single study involving Vitamin E ever conducted, involving 40,000 women over a 10-year period. Among the positive findings, the study showed a 24% reduction in cardiovascular deaths among the entire population of women who took Vitamin E Supplements over a 10-year period, and a 49% reduction in cardiovascular deaths among the women aged 65 and older who took vitamin E supplements over a 10-year period.

The vice president of the Council for Responsible Nutrition's regulatory and scientific affairs, said the data from the new Womens Health study clearly shows that vitamin E can help healthy women, especially older women, and that they can expect to derive substantial benefit.

A world renowned Vitamin E expert, and principal investigator at the Linus Pauling Institute, stated that the results of the Womens Health study were exciting, and that vitamin E has clear value in helping to reduce the risk of heart and other serious degenerative diseases, especially for people who smoke, have high blood pressure, or who don't eat properly-habits that can cause inadequate levels of this essential vitamin. Improving & Maintaining Heart Health

The Womens Health Study findings are significant for two reasons:

1) The data showed convincingly that taking Vitamin E supplements reduces the risk of cardiovascular death even in healthy women indicating that this essential nutrient confers benefits beyond those derived from healthy lifestyles, balanced nutrition and regular exercise;

2) It is now recognized that while heart disease is the number one cause of mortality in both men and women, the signs and symptoms typically occur about ten years later in women versus men.

Accordingly, the Womens Health Study demonstrated that the protective effects of vitamin E were most apparent in the age group having the greatest risk; thus in women aged 65 and older, cardiovascular death was reduced by 49% and heart attack by 34% in the group receiving this vital important vitamin.

Vitamin E is Safe and Effective

There are more than 1,000 studies that support the safe and effective use of Vitamin E supplements. Research studies on this vitamin have linked the antioxidant to numerous health benefits, including:

Reduced progression of advanced age-related macular degeneration

Reduced occurrence of cataracts

Slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease

Slower progression of atherosclerosis

Lower incidence of non-fatal myocardial infarction

Reduced incidence of upper respiratory infection

Boost Your Immune System

The scientific and clinical data shows well-established benefits of supplementation with vitamins, including Vitamin E, makes sense in support of a healthy lifestyle, and for people who desire nutritional insurance for the gaps left unfilled by the typical diet.

For additional expert information about the safety of Vitamin E, see
The Council for Responsible Nutrition website.

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