Whitewing Labs, Inc.
Journal of Natural Health, October 1999
by L. Stephen Coles, M.D., PhD
and Heart Health
In 1922, researchers discovered animals fed a diet of rancid lard could not produce offspring, but when provided lettuce their reproductive capacity returned. Two years later, the substance in lettuce that enabled them to reproduce was identified. Researchers called it vitamin E or tocopherol.
It is easy to see why researchers named this substance tocopherol from the Greek word tokos, meaning childbirth, and the verb phero, meaning to bring forth.
Vitamin E and Heart Health
Although
until recently many people have thought of vitamin E as a “fertility”
vitamin, much of the medical community's current interest is focused on its role in the
possible prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD). It is no wonder. Almost one-half of
all deaths in the United States are heart disease-related; more than 1.25 million heart
attacks occur annually with two-thirds among men. There are also over one-half million
strokes annually. With these kinds of staggering statistics in mind, it is clear that a
relatively nontoxic, inexpensive substance may prove to beneficial to maintaining a
healthy heart.
The essential questions surrounding vitamin E and heart disease
are whether it lowers the risk of heart attacks and stroke, how much is required in the
diet, and whether an additional amount with dietary supplements is beneficial, or even
safe.
Clinical Evidence
Several
recent large-scale human studies have examined the role of vitamin E in
cardiovascular health. They offer evidence for a beneficial effect for both men and women.
The Nurses Health Study used data from 87,245 women, aged 34 to 59, who were free of heart
disease in 1980. After adjusting for age, smoking, obesity, exercise, and other risk
factors, nurses who took vitamin E supplements had only two-thirds the risk for
heart disease compared to those not taking the supplement. Women taking vitamin E for
more than two years had only about half the risk.
Moreover, the vitamin E supplements taken by the subjects
provided a greater amount than one could get normally from dietary sources alone. The
protective effect was not seen in persons whose only source of vitamin E was from
dietary intake alone.
In the May 20, 1993 New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), Eric
Rimm and co-investigators noted that vitamin E supplements may reduce the risk of
CHD in middle-aged men. The researchers studied some 39,910 male health professionals,
aged 40 to 75 years, for a four-year period. They found men who consumed more than 60
international units (IU) of vitamin E per day had a lower risk of CHD than
The Doctor’s Prescription
For super
heart protection, be sure to take Whitewing Labs’ new product, Vitamin E. Its
naturally-sourced vitamin E formula (mixed tocopherols) is at least 36 percent more
potent than synthetic vitamin E formulas (alpha tocopherols) sold in drug stores. I
recommend that most people take between 400 IU and 800 IU daily.
Order Vitamin E from Whitewing Labs today by turning to the
order form in the center of this journal.
Vitamin E
Protects Against Stroke
Even modest amounts of vitamin E are protective
against stroke, according to research shared at the annual meeting of the American Academy
of Neurology in April. Research conducted at New York's Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital
showed that taking vitamin E supplements can reduce the risk of a stroke by 53 percent.
Every American today should take 400 to 800 IU of vitamin E daily for reducing
heart disease and stroke risk. Seek naturally sourced brands from reputable suppliers such
as Whitewing Labs.
LSC
