| The real benefits of Vitamin E may surprise | | | | Vitamin E and Heart DiseaseDoes Vitamin E aid |
| you. First of all, what is Vitamin E? Vitamin | | | | in the prevention of heart disease? Well, the |
| E is not one nutrient but actually a group of | | | | jury's still out on this one. Theoretically, |
| eight nutrients known as tocopherols and | | | | the benefits of Vitamin E and its ability to |
| tocotrienols. Each one of these groups is | | | | significantly reduce the progression of |
| further broken down into alpha, beta, gamma | | | | atherosclerotic plaque (buildup on the inside |
| and delta.Alpha-tocopherol is the most active | | | | of your artery walls), says yes, without a |
| and common form. This is the form most often | | | | doubt.An article in the Journal of the |
| found in vitamin supplements. This is also | | | | American Medical Association says so also. |
| the only form of Vitamin E given an RDA | | | | Using angiography, a correlation was found |
| (Recommended Daily Allowance). Folks who eat | | | | between taking Vitamin E supplements and a |
| lots of fruits and vegetables and not much | | | | reduction in coronary artery atherosclerosis. |
| fat in their diet, probably don't get their | | | | Remember the above benefits of Vitamin E and |
| RDA of alpha-tocopherol. Although | | | | how Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant? Well |
| alpha-tocopherol is the only Vitamin E | | | | this is the same mechanism.As Jeffrey |
| component given an RDA, Gamma tocopherol is | | | | Blumberg, Ph.D., F.A.C.N. of Tufts |
| an important component as well.Vitamin E is | | | | University, Boston, Massachusetts states "... |
| an oil soluble vitamin and is stored by your | | | | surveys of over 200,000 people in different |
| body.Benefits of Vitamin E and What It Does | | | | communities around the world have provided |
| For YouWhat does Vitamin E do? Vitamin E acts | | | | compelling evidence that diets high in |
| as what's called an antioxidant. If you've | | | | vitamin E and/or use of vitamin E supplements |
| read the section of my site on Health | | | | reduce the risk of heart disease."Dr. |
| Supplements, you've no doubt read about what | | | | Blumberg stresses the importance of making |
| an antioxidant does. If not we can review | | | | the distinction between what he calls primary |
| quickly.The cells of your body are under a | | | | and secondary prevention. Primary prevention |
| lot of stress... oxidative stress. Oxidative | | | | focuses on groups of healthy people and |
| stress occurs when highly unstable molecules | | | | testing for new heart disease against |
| called free radicals roam freely throughout | | | | different levels of Vitamin E intake over |
| your body. Free radicals are a by-product of | | | | many years. Secondary prevention is taking |
| not only the normal metabolic processes of | | | | groups of folks with existing heart disease |
| your cells but also your environment. Things | | | | and testing for a short duration using |
| such as air pollution, sun exposure, ozone, | | | | Vitamin E supplements along with placebos.It |
| nitrous oxide (from auto exhaust), cigarette | | | | is felt that the results of some secondary |
| smoke, alcohol consumption and so on.Free | | | | trials (the ones that claim no beneficial |
| radicals damage cell membranes and can result | | | | relationship between Vitamin E and heart |
| in changes to your cells that cause chronic | | | | disease) may be skewed by other factors in |
| diseases down the road. When your cells are | | | | these heart patients such as smoking and |
| being damaged by these free radicals, we say | | | | diabetes. Also the drugs that these folks are |
| your cells are experiencing oxidative | | | | taking along with the Vitamin E supplements |
| stress... and one of the benefits of Vitamin | | | | could also affect the outcome of the |
| E is that it is an antioxidant and can | | | | research.Concerning the benefits of Vitamin |
| significantly neutralize the free radicals | | | | E, Dr. |
| that cause oxidative stress.Benefits of | | | | |