Posted by Larry Hoover on November 11, 2004, at 8:35:02
In reply to Re: Vit E and increased death risk? » JLx, posted by Larry Hoover on November 10, 2004, at 11:41:01
> > Vitamin E May Increase Death Risk, Researchers Say http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39261-2004Nov10.html
> >
> > JL
>
> I want to read the full-text of the paper, before I come to any conclusions of any sort. As mentioned in this article, there was a study that found that beta-carotene supplements had adverse effects, but the whole experimental model used was devoid of real-life applicability. Beta-carotene is never consumed in isolation, and it may well be that other nutrients were poorly supplied that were necessary for everything to work well. Until I see this complete article, I'm not convinced of anything. Vitamin E intake should be balanced by other antioxidants. I have no idea what the underlying study protocols were.
>
> Lar
>The following was posted to sci.med.nutrition by a respected member. It's nice to see that I'm not alone in my thinking.
"He says there are several theories about why vitamin E increases risk. One theory is that it increases bleeding risk, which would increase the risk of a type of stroke, while another theory suggests that at high doses vitamin E stops working like an antioxidant, removing harmful molecules in the body, and instead becomes a pro-oxidant, actually promoting the production of harmful molecules.
Still another scenario suggests that high doses of vitamin E tend to wipe out other antioxidants, which disrupts the body's natural antioxidant protection system."
This gets more to the issue, I think. These data are not dissimilar from the findings of the dangers of beta carotene.
Well, I think that makes sense. Anyone who knows even the most general science of oxidative stress will realize that these individual agents work as antioxidants for a specific oxdiant. They then must be reduced by another antioxidant. So they work in tight knit cycles.
Thinking in the framework of "one drug for one condition" (let alone a bug/infectious disease) in this context is really moronically stupid. And it is little wonder that people who take high dose Vitamin E or beta carotene fare poorly. Indeed, it's rather suprising to me that the increased mortality risk is so low!
By contrast, using an array of antioxidants makes MUCH more sense. A case in point is the studies of beta carotene in HIV disease, some studies for preventing mother-to-child transmission. In those studies, no benefit was found. No surprise. However, recent studies of the use of a MULTIVITAMIN showed much better effect. Indeed, HIV disease progression was slowed by 30%.
That's because you get a full array of the elements of the oxidative stress cycles that provide a balance: vitamins A, C, E, the B vitamins, selenium, zinc. A good potent multi I think is an important cornerstone of therapy. One might add to that agents like NAC, alpha lipoic acid and other enhancers of glutathione, catalase and the SODs."
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:412398
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20041108/msgs/414511.html