Vitamin E found to fight colds in elderly

Taking a daily vitamin E supplement may protect the elderly from getting colds, suggests a new study, thought to be the first to demonstrate that vitamin E can protect against colds in a real life situation. The research found nursing home residents supplemented with the vitamin were 20 per cent less likely to get a cold and also had less colds over the study period than a placebo group.
Source: http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/news-NG.asp?id=54214

Vitamin E may help prevent flu

A DAILY dose of Vitamin E may be able to help the elderly ward off the common cold, a study released Tuesday said.In a long-term study of nursing home residents, those given a daily Vitamin E supplement had significantly fewer colds and a 20 percent lower risk of catching a cold than a control group given a placebo, or dummy pill.
The supplements did not appear to have any effect on lower respiratory tract infections, such as acute bronchitis or pneumonia, or seasonal allergies, but were associated with a lower incidence of viral infections of the common-cold variety.

Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,10495265%255E23289,00.html

Study Finds Huge Variability In Vitamin E Absorption

Source: Oregon State University
Date: 2004-01-16

CORVALLIS – A new study has found that cereal fortified with vitamin E has a very high rate of absorption into the bloodstream, whereas pills taken separately with the same food have inconsistent effects, and taking the supplements alone is largely useless.

Early Vitamin E Supplements Stem Development Of Hallmark Alzheimer's Symptoms In Mice

Source: University Of Pennslyvania Health Systems
Date: 2004-03-26

(Philadelphia, PA) - Vitamin E, a well-known antioxidant, has been used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, but with mixed results, especially in patients with advanced symptoms. A risk factor for Alzheimer’s is oxidative stress, a clinical condition characterized by an excessive production of reactive chemicals in the brain, which can damage important regions of this organ.

Vitamin Supplement Use May Reduce Effects Of Alzheimer's Disease

Source: Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School Of Public Health
Date: 2004-01-20

Antioxidant vitamin supplements, particularly vitamins E and C, may protect the aging brain against damage associated with the pathological changes of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and other institutions. The researchers believe antioxidant vitamin supplements may be an ideal prevention strategy for our aging population as they are relatively nontoxic and are thought to have wide-ranging health benefits. The study, "Reduced Risk of Alzheimer's Disease in Users of Antioxidant Vitamin Supplements" is published in the January 2004, issue of the journal Archives of Neurology.

Vitamin E Does Not Protect Cancer Cells Against Radiation

Source: Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center
Date: 2001-01-18

Researchers at Rush were concerned that patients who take vitamin E may be inadvertently providing protection for the cancer cells that are the target of radiation therapy. Radiation damage is one form of oxidation, and vitamin E's antioxidant properties presumably extend to cancer cells.
To determine if this were true, Rush researchers, led by Dr. Ed Blazek, director of radiation biology in the Rush department of radiation oncology, grew cells originating from human breast and prostate tumors in nutrient solutions containing several concentrations of vitamin E. The cells were then irradiated with the same daily doses used for patients.
The Rush team found that the tested concentrations of vitamin E did not interfere with the desired killing of cancer cells by radiation. An important limitation of this study, however, is that the level of vitamin E taken up by the cancer cells in laboratory culture has not yet been measured, and might be smaller than the level taken up by cells of a tumor in the patient's body. If so, it is still possible that vitamin E might worsen treatment outcomes.
Although no undesirable protection of cancer cells was found, the researchers issued a caution to those taking vitamin E and other alternative therapies. "Any drug that is taken during cancer radiotherapy or chemotherapy should be tested to prove that it does not protect the tumor cells, defeating the intended effect of the treatment," Blazek said.
Natural extensions of this work would include the addition of the drug pentoxifylline to vitamin E, since this combination has been reported to partially reverse radiation damage to normal tissue, the testing of vitamin C for radioprotection, and the testing of both vitamins E and C for protection from representative cancer chemotherapy drugs.
This research, performed by Drs. Alex Perez and Katherine Baker together with Dr. Blazek, was presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago.
Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center includes the 809-bed Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital; 154-bed Johnston R. Bowman Health Center for the Elderly; Rush University (Rush Medical College, College of Nursing, College of Health Sciences and Graduate College); and seven Rush Institutes providing diagnosis, treatment and research into leading health problems. The medical center is the tertiary hub of the Rush System for Health, a comprehensive healthcare system capable of serving about two million people through its outpatient facilities and five member hospitals.