Few really need a Vitamin E Supplement
Why do millions of Americans take a vitamin E supplement every day? There’s not enough medical evidence to know for sure how beneficial the vitamin E supplement is. Perhaps the answer lies in the magical powers of the vitamin E we get from our diet. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects many of our cells from free radicals. Free radicals come from things like pollution, cigarette smoke and other carcinogens. They attack our cells and cause damage.
Vitamin E, which is fat soluble, comes along and boosts our immune system and protects our cells from these free radicals. Vitamin E deficiency is rare so there’s a lot of vitamin E supplement being taken that may not be necessary. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin E is only 15mg per day. It’s not hard to get that naturally in our diets.
For people who can’t absorb fat, which is needed to absorb vitamin E, a vitamin E supplement would be necessary. People with Cystic Fibrosis and Crohn’s Disease who also have difficulty absorbing fat would be candidates for a vitamin E supplement.
People who do take a vitamin E supplement need to discuss it with their doctor along with disclosing all the other medication they are taking as a vitamin E supplement can interfere with other drugs. In fact, no matter what dietary supplement you choose to take, you need to inform your doctor.
Vitamin supplements are no substitute for a balanced diet. Yet we have become obsessed with taking them. Is it because we’re too busy to eat right? There are times of course when it is appropriate and beneficial to take vitamin supplements including a vitamin E supplement.
In 2004, the American Heart Association released a statement telling people not to use any of the antioxidant vitamins to prevent heart disease. In large doses, these can be dangerous. Some people erroneously believe that because they are sold over the counter, all dietary supplements are safe.
They may not realize that the FDA doesn’t regulate this industry as they do food and drugs. Basically, the only rules are that what is claimed on the label must be the truth and the vitamin E supplement, as well as all supplements must be manufactured in a safe manner although it’s not clear what that is.
The very definition of supplement has been obliterated in recent years. Just as people who have difficulty absorbing fat, should take a vitamin E supplement, others erroneously assume that since vitamin E helps protect our cells, that a whole lot of it in pill form will protect us further. This simply isn’t true.
