| March
17, 2005
WHAT CONSUMERS NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT THE HOPE-TOO STUDY
CAUTION NEEDED IN INTERPRETING THE HOPE-TOO STUDY
The study lacked adequate research and controlled sampling to justify
the authors’ strong conclusions.
The study’s unprecedented findings were based on a study
population of older patients.
- Average age was over 70 at the end of the study
- Participants already had a variety of degenerative diseases
in varying degrees including vascular heart disease
- Participants were typically taking five different prescription
medications (including beta-blockers, anti-platelet agents, statins,
diuretics, calcium channel blockers and ACE inhibitors), all of
which could have confounded the authors’ conclusions
Despite the aforementioned, the study’s authors chose not
to examine whether any of these medications were a risk factor in
the 1.4 per cent increase in heart failure, attributing this increase
exclusively to Vitamin E. Therefore, the authors established a correlation
between Vitamin E and this increased risk. But the study, in no
way, proves the increased risk was caused by Vitamin E.
‘Heart failure’ as used in the report is not a heart
attack, stroke or death but a decreased volume of blood being pumped.
HOPE-TOO NOT THE FINAL WORD
Despite media reports, the study results should
be viewed in the context of other research being conducted around
the world:
- The study authors concede the results are “unexpected,”
have not been found in any other clinical trial, and “could
be due to chance”
- Numerous other studies with a greater number of participants
have shown significant cardiovascular benefits from Vitamin E
supplementation
- This study is not the final word on vitamin E—other clinical
trials are already underway to determine whether Vitamin E will
prevent specific types of tumors. For example, the National Cancer
Institute has enrolled more than 35,000 men to study whether Vitamin
E and selenium can prevent prostate cancer
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q. Are there significant health benefits
in taking a Vitamin E supplement?
A.
Absolutely. Decades of clinical research and numerous current trials
continue to shed light on Vitamin E as a safe and effective antioxidant
that provides benefits for vision, Alzheimer’s disease, inflammatory
diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, counteracting free radicals
to play a role in fighting cancers, as well as reducing the risk
of coronary disease in certain patient populations. Unfortunately,
the published data on the HOPE-TOO study obscures vitamin E’s
essential role in life and health and its long-term benefits.
Q. Are Vitamin E supplements (400 IU) safe?
A.
Yes. Vitamin E is not only safe, but like all vitamins, it is essential
for life. A closelook at the study itself and the accompanying editorial
reveals no evidence that vitamin E is unsafe for healthy people.The
US Institute of Medicine (IOM), a scientific advisory body, states
that vitamin E supplements are safe within a wide range up to 1,000
mg (1,000 IU synthetic or 1,500 IU natural). HOPE-TOO subjects were
taking 400 IU, much less than the safe, upper level established
by the IOM.
Q. I am taking a vitamin E supplement. Is
this sufficient?
A.
In practice, most nutritionally-oriented doctors are now recommending
vitamin E, not as an isolated nutrient, but as a component of a
comprehensive and balanced program of a diet rich in antioxidant
nutrients (i.e. vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and legumes), and
a balanced foundation of nutritional supplementation that includes:
vitamin C, selenium, mixed carotenoids, beta carotene, alpha lipoic
acid and coenzyme Q10. These dietary recommendations and foundational
supplements work synergistically and in harmony with each other
in promoting vibrant health.
Q. Can I get all the needed vitamin E through
diet?
A.
Most people do not get the Recommended Dietary Allowance of vitamin
E (15 mg) from their diet alone. Therefore, you can introduce more
vitamin E into your diet by consuming more foods as nuts, green
leafy vegetables and fortified cereals. You can also get vitamin
E from a multivitamin or a single vitamin E supplement.
Natural Factors Nutritional Products Ltd.
1550 United Blvd.
Coquitlam,
BC V3K 6Y7
Tel: 1-800-663-8900
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