USA Weekend Eat Smart Archive

January 28, 2007

 A new National Cancer Institute study of 29,000 older male smokers followed for 19 years finds that, contrary to recent headlines, vitamin E is a lifesaver.

Men with the highest blood levels of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) were 18% less apt to die from any cause than those with the lowest blood vitamin E. Specifically, high blood levels of E cut risk of dying from prostate cancer 32%, lung cancer 21%, ischemic (blood clot) stroke 37%, hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke 35% and respiratory disease 42%.

The "optimal" dose of vitamin E is unknown and would vary with individuals, says Oregon State University expert Maret Traber. Up to 1,500 IU of vitamin E a day is considered safe for adults.