Author
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MCKAY, DIANE - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University |
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Submitted to: Alternative Medicine Alert
Publication Type: Other Publication Acceptance Date: 6/12/2009 Publication Date: 6/29/2009 Citation: McKay, D.L. 2009. Does lowering gamma-tocopherol explain the failure of vitamin E supplementation trials? Alternative Medicine Alert. 12:73-84. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Several large observational studies have suggested that vitamin E supplementation lowers the risk of coronary heart disease. However, the results of large randomized controlled trials failed to show a clear benefit of gamma-tocopherol supplementation on cardiovascular outcomes. In this study, supplementation with high-, medium-, and low-doses of gamma-tocopherol, plus vitamin C, decreased plasma gamma-tocopherol in type 2 diabetics, but did not affect markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, or hypercoagulation following an atherogenic test meal. The findings suggest that gamma-tocopherol supplementation suppresses the beneficial effects of the gamma-tocopherol isomer. Although the health impact of lowering plasma gamma-tocopherol is an issue that requires further investigation, the authors’ overall conclusions are unwarranted due to the marked limitations of their study. |