WASHINGTON, Nov 18, 2004 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — “To E or not to E,” a question prompted by a controversial analysis released last week, is addressed by leading researchers and physicians who recommend that Americans keep taking vitamin E supplements in recommended amounts for overall health benefits. These researchers, physicians and health officials have voiced concern and even outrage regarding a “meta-analysis” suggesting that high-dose vitamin E supplements “may increase risk of dying” among older, high-risk patients.
The Dietary Supplement Information Bureau (DSIB) has launched a new Web site – http://www.vitaminEfacts.org – to help consumers obtain accurate information on vitamin E. Visitors will find referenced materials to help them understand the analysis generating news headlines and facts on why vitamin E is safe and beneficial.
DSIB Scientific Advisory Board members were quick to respond to the issues raised in the study:
“This meta-analysis, a study of other studies published during the last 11 years, concludes there may be a very small increase in mortality associated with high dose vitamin E supplements. However, these results were generated from clinical trials of patients sick with chronic diseases or at very high risk of such conditions and cannot be extrapolated to generally healthy people looking to promote their health and prevent disease. It is important to appreciate that these researchers examined only 19 clinical trials comprised of 135,000 patients and did not investigate at all dozens of observational studies involving millions of people that show vitamin E supplementation can be beneficial and completely safe,” explains Dr. Jeffrey Blumberg, a professor of nutrition at Tufts University.