Vitamin E study's method, findings flawed

Johns Hopkins University released a recent study (funded in part by a pharmaceutical company) that claims 400 international units or more of vitamin E can increase the risk of death and should be avoided. I was angered and disappointed that such a study was released, causing unnecessary fear and concern among the millions of people using this safe, incredibly useful supplement to improve health.

Thousands of research studies done over more than three generations have attested to vitamin E's great health benefits and safety. Some reseach even goes back to the 1930s. There have been more than 6,000 studies alone that show cardiovascular benefit from vitamin E supplementation.

In the case of this particular study, there is no logic to justify the conclusion. First of all, the high dosage trials were often small and were performed in patients with chronic diseases such as cancer, kidney failure, heart disease and Alzheimers, who were a greater risk for mortality anyway. In addition, half the people in this study were using other vitamins and minerals in addition to vitamin E -- how could the researchers accurately extrapolate that vitamin E was the culprit?

This study is another example of the traditional medical establishment and the mainstream media trying to discredit the benefits and safety of nutritional supplements -- a pattern that has been going on for more than 30 years. The Council for Responsible Nutrition's recently published response sums it up: "This is an unfortunate misdirection of science in an attempt to make something out of nothing for the sake of headlines."

Stay informed and well-educated about your health -- it could save your life.

SUSAN MERENSTEIN, R.Ph.
Community Drug
Compounding Center,
Greenfield

Flawed study, part II

I'm writing on behalf of General Nutrition Centers Inc. to express some serious concerns with the New York Times story "Vitamin E's Effect Could Be Adverse to Some" that appeared in the Nov. 11 in the Post Gazette. We strongly question the credibility of the study cited and are concerned that the negative issues will cause confusion about the positive benefits of vitamin E. The story failed to report that the Institute of Medicine has found that vitamin E supplements are safe at levels of at least up to 1,000 mg (1,600 IU) for normal, healthy adults. Multiple research studies have confirmed the safety and demonstrated vitamin E's essential role in maintaining health and reducing the risk of a number of chronic diseases such as age related macular degeneration and cancer.

Our specific concerns focus on the fact that the study inappropriately tries to draw conclusions for the whole population based on a combination of studies of people who were already at grave risk with diseases such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and kidney failure. The study authors point out that high-dosage trials were often small and performed on patients with chronic diseases; whether the results could be applied to healthy adults is uncertain. Based on this uncertainty and other credibility issues with the study, we view the article as misleading for readers looking for properly researched health and science information.

The Council for Responsible Nutrition also immediately questioned the credibility of the study, calling it "an unfortunate misdirection of science in an attempt to make something out of nothing for the sake of headlines."

We encourage all of your readers to fully research the potential benefits of Vitamin E and not make any decisions concerning their health based on sensational headlines and flawed research.

SUSAN TRIMBO, Ph.D.
Senior vice president, scientific affairs
General Nutrition Centers Inc.
Downtown