Vitamin E Toxicity

Analysis of Merck Manual report on Vitamin E Toxicity

Vitamin E Toxicity  article mentions some possible adverse conditions that might happen with excess consumption of Vitamin E. BUT, they fail to mention one very important fact that influences vital body processes. Even at dosages lower than might yield adverse events the article mentioned, vitamin E as only alpha tocopherol can interfere with the absorption of other fact soluble vitamin E members as well as vitamin K. This is perhaps the major adverse impact of excess alpha tocopherol.

Actions of vitamin K are of course pretty important to prevent excess bleeding, manage bone building, control bolld sugar levels, and to prevent calcification of artery walls. pages

Blocking out absorption of the other vitamin E family members arriving in foods, the ones now known to better help control cancer development and prevent brain cell damage, is a major concern. pages

Yes, as the article mentions, vitamin E as only alpha tocopherol did not prevent cardiovascular disease, cancers, or Alzheimer's dementia. New research has now revealed Scientists simply tested an incomplete form of vitamin E. The whole family of 8 vitamin E relatives need to be consumed to help with these conditions. pages

From the Wellness Letter, Vitamins Fail

Multivitamins Fail to Deliver-Again. From the Wellness Letter 10-2023 out of the University of Berkeley.

Another study of studies fails to find benefits for multivitamins on cancer or heart disease prevention.

ANALYSIS: The real story here is not just the failed results. The real take away is that it is finally time to accept the premise that the multivitamin formulas tested failed to deliver positive results. It is not the vitamins that failed. The truth is that multi-vitamin formulas failed and must have something wrong or missing that needs correcting.

It is past time to admit this is the real reality.  Current multivitamin formulas and vitamin forms tested are incomplete and do not provide the nutrient forms that the new scientific research reveals are the ones with value for the diseases under study.  

• The multivitamins used contained synthetic all-trans beta carotene instead of the natural forms found in algae with related family synergistic functions. pages

• Vitamin E was also missing the full 8 factors found in foods, beta-, delta-, gamma-, as well as alpha tocopherol, plus the same four for tocotrienols. Alpha tocopherol was found to not be low in heart patients while other of the 8 vitamin E family members were deficient. Studies have now verified this fact but this infomration has yet to change mainstream nutrition and the majority of multivitamins.(98%). pages

Here is copy from the Wellness Letter article that contains a concept not widely promoted to the vitamin consuming Public:  "Of note, the recommendations apply only to healthy community-dwelling adults and not children, pregnant women, or people with chronic illnesses or nutrient deficiencies, who may benefit from certain supplements."

Inconvenient fact: The percentage of People with a nutrient deficiency varies from 0.3% up to 98% for different nutrients. Less than 10% consume 100% of all required nutrient recommendations. Potassium is often 100% deficient. That so few people were able to reach the potassium requirement prompted the US Government recently to lower the RDA by over 30%. ref  article article article

Article from Johns Hopkins Medicine

"Is There Really Any Benefit to Multivitamins?"  A Johns Hopkins Medicine Editoral

This editorial appeared in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine and was entitled "Enough is Enough: Stop Wasting Money on Vitamin Supplements"     Three studies were reviewed. One found multivitamins did not reduce risk for heart disease or cancer. The next found no reductions for the risk of mental declines. The third found a high dose multivitamin did not reduce heart attacks, surgeries, or deaths between the test group taking the vitamins and the control group that did not.

There is another article on this website analyzed from the same Johns Hopkins Medicine but just a different group of Scientists found here. Much of the same information is in this new article.  And the analysis evaluations are similar as well. One needs to put the proper perspective on the conclusions reached. The study results are limited to the form of vitamins and dosages consumed by participants in the study. 99% of Multiple Vitamins contain flaws that could limit reaching positive results. 

Does Nature have another scenario to explain these results? Multivitamins today lack family members and the forms that are the ones with benefits for the conditions under study, cancer, heart disease, and dementia. These are mentioned and listed here.

For more specific vitamin flaws in form:  Beta Carotene, Vitamin E, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, and B complex vitamins. The dosages for many of these vitamins are also in question.

Perhaps the most striking fact is that mainstream vitamin Scientists have missed or presented mis-leading analysis of the scientific research that highlights this new vitamin reality. 

ANALYSIS for Vitamin E forms

Here is a simple yet revealing explanation for vitamin E forms that a heart Doctor discovered after measuring blood levels of all of the vitamin E family forms between his heart patients and healthy subjects. While all the past heart disease studies tested various amounts of only the d'alpha tocopherol vitamin E form, this Doctor found that both subject groups exhibited nearly the same d'alpha tocopherol levels. Thus, a vitamin E deficiency of the d'alpha tocopherol might not be associated with heart disease, or at least not by itself. What this Doctor did find was that another vitamin E family form, d'gamma tocopherol, was lower in heart patients. ref A twist is mentioned next that may show that d'alpha tocopherol is important, but why all forms are also needed.

Now, here is another piece of the puzzle that might add some clarity. The body has the ability to convert each of three tocopherol forms, beta, delta, and gamma, into the alpha form when more alpha is needed. But, this conversion is not reciprocal since the alpha form does not convert into any other form. Nature must know that the alpha form is vital to health. But this conversion process when and if needed would reduce the amount of the other three tocopherol forms to perform their unique functions. Functions that the alpha form either does not do or does somewhat limited. It turns out that alpha tocopherol works to control oxygen radicals but does not touch nitrogen radicals. It is the gamma tocopherol form that is in charge of working to neutralize the nitrogen radicals.

Sidebar: Nature was correct to include all the tocopherols together in foods. A healthy body needs all the forms to work in tandem. When vegetable oils, such as corn oil, are produced, the first pressing out oil contains all the four tocopherols. But then the Lab workers, using the same conversion technique that can occur naturally in the body, chemically converts the other three forms of tocopherol into just the alpha form. This process eliminates any benefits from the other three vitamin E family members plus synergistms they porvide. Plus, this over exposes the body to higher alpha tocopherol levels. This could be the reason for negative vitamin E study results using only the alpha form.

Myths and Facts about Vitamins

Article to be analyzed can be found here> Myths and facts about vitamins, including if they work at all - Insider

This article is fairly typical of those attempting to add some clarity to the value or lack of value of taking vitamin supplements. But like most, when a journalist writes about a topic outside of their knowledge base, the results are only as good as the resources interviewed or studies mentioned. In this case, the article makes some pretty good and valid points, but then fails to really hit the heart of the topic, and misses undercurrent issues, even to the point of falling into numerous contradictions. Did the authors read their own story?

9 things you need to know before you take another vitamin

1. Vitamins are substances your body needs to function properly.  

The article starts out by saying vitamins are necessary to be supplied by the diet and are essential for life. 40% of American Adults take a multiple vitamin. Then it asks the question: "have you ever stopped to consider what that vitamin is actually doing for you?" Next it mentions that "vitamin pills can be unhelpful or even dangerous.

2. You should get your vitamins primarily from food 

The article reports it is best to get vitamins from food since food packs accessory nutrients to help vitamins function that are not in most multiple vitamin supplements. After a chart listing the functions of vitamins, this next topic is purposed: "Technically, vitamins that exist naturally in food work the same as synthetic ones in supplements and pills." This statement is not technically true. While it is true for many, it is not true for a few like vitamin E, beta carotene, vitamin K, and folic acid, plus also for these and others vitamins at different dosage amounts or those lacking synergistic related nutrients. Some vitamins have many forms, some more beneficial than others. Vitamin B6 is associated with nerve damage at both too low and also at excessive amounts. article 

3. But there are some cases where a vitamin supplement is needed.

Let's bypass these differences for a moment and assume that all synthetic vitamins work similar to natural ones from food and continue. The following conditions may need extra vitamins: Folic acid for women before pregnancy, vitamin B12 if a vegetarian for blood building and energy, and vitamin D if live in Northern areas without enough sun.

Next the concept is purposed; that vitamins in food work synergistically with other beneficial food substances which Science has shown can help keep us healthy and prevent diseases. And You can't replicate that synergy with a supplement" and that the high vitamin doses found in some supplements can actually be harmful.

4.You probably don't need a multivitamin.

The article adds that science is now questioning the need for vitamin supplements since some newer research is not showing any reductions in heart disease and cancers.

These statements are all OK and are mostly in agreement. But they miss some pretty important points that only those who study vitamins would know. What if there was a way that supplements could be tweaked to better replicate that synergy in vitamin interactions found in foods?

Many articles on this Vitamin workshop website have such information that lists the ways to accomplish such a tweak.

Chief among them, including in multiple vitamins, using the whole family of vitamin E ref, and slso for vitamin C, plus with other carotenoids (article) too. There is also a need to limit dosages to within the ideal ranges for optimum vitamin functions. Usually both too low as well as excessive present problems.

The whole Vitamin E family is more effective than only using alpha tocopherol for many vitamin E functions.  article on Brain health. The SELECT study only used alpha tocopherol but needed gamma tocopherol as well.

Here is an unfortunate statement this aricle makes that needs clarification: If you're unsure about whether you need a supplement, ask a doctor or a registered dietitian.  There are not enough well educated Dietitians and even less Doctors that really know vitamins, how they are made, and what forms and dosages are most effective for each health condition. This fact is sadly at the base of many vitamin recommendation dilemmas.

5. Yes, you can overdose on vitamins.

 The article says water soluble B-complex and C vitamins are harmlessly flushed out of the body in urine while fat soluble vitamins can be stored and build up to toxic levels. First, there are some B vitamins that are harmful in larger doses. Vitamin B6 on nerve damage and Folic acid on reduced immune cell activity and the accelerattion of cancer growth rates. There is a class of cancer drugs called anti-folates that slow down the actions of natural folates (folic acid is the synthetic form). Cancer cells use the actions of folates to grow faster. You can get too much vitamin A which increases bone fracture risk, high Vitamin D is adverse for men with prostate problems as well as for the potential increase of calcium blood levels. Plus, vitamin K actions are just now beginning to reveal adverse effects from both too little on bone health and too much on blood sugar control plus prostate problems again. High dose Vitamin E long ago was linked to increasing mortality rates due to an increase in strokes. Vitamin E can thin the blood. ref

6.Taking vitamin C won't help your cold

This is rather interesting. The title says one thing, but in the article it says vitamin C taken over time will slightly shorten the duration of a cold. Maybe by just one day. But, starting to take vitamin C at the beginning a cold does not work. Not mentioned is that extreme athletes taking vitamin C over time reduce the number of colds by almost 50%. Exercise reduces the immune system level of activity for a brief period, so extreme athletes often get more colds, especially at the Winter Olympics. It should also be pointed out that for vitamin D to influence health, it too should be consumed for a couple of months so it can build up levels in the body. It takes 3 months for D to max out.

7. Vitamins can't give you more energy

The article is technologically correct in that it states only calories supply energy. But, the B-complex vitamins are needed to convert food into calories. Plus, not mentioned in the article is that vitamin B12 along with other vitamins and iron help build red blood cells that carry more oxygen into the power plants of the cells to increase energy production. BUT, these vitamins will only increase energy production if they are low to begin with. CDC tests of Public vitamin intakes show numerous deficiencies. Thus, to increase energy, get some exercise and enough sleep, these help reduce the energy robber stress, plus consume enough food calories with some B-complex vitamins. 

8. Adding vitamins to a junk food doesn't make it healthy.

But if that is your only dietary source for some of these vitamins, maybe it is better than not taking vitamins at all and just continuing to eat junk foods. the article makes the recommendation to check the back of the label to see if the food contains fibers and is not just loaded with sugar calories. See this guide. Here's a helpful guide to decoding nutrition labels.

9. If you are truly deficient in a vitamin, you'll have concerning symptoms.

The unfortunate part of this statement is that vitamin deficiencies do not always exhibit symptoms. The body adapts and compensates for deficiencies in different ways, often for quite some time. If low in dietary calcium, the body robs bones of calcium to maintain blood levels and to help buffer acid levels. Luckily, other mechanisms soon kick in and bones are left alone. The preferred acid buffer is built from potassium coming in with vegetables and fruits, along with lung respiration and Kidneys balancing mineral loads. These three areas work together to produce potassium bicarbonate. It is the ultimate acid base regulator the body wants to use so it does not have to touch bones or rely on other mechanisms.

MAJOR MISSED OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS

This media article, while better than most, suffers from the same failures due to the ingrained myths of modern medicine about vitamin realities. It turns out that many of the studies revealing that vitamins did not show health benefits simply used the wrong vitamin forms and dosages, especially missing the impact of synergistic family vitamin factors that are available in proper supplement sources. These involve vitamin E, C, Beta Carotene, D, and B-complex (dosages). Without these forms included, it is only logical that a lack of benefits would be found. Synthetic vitamin E is only 50% as effective as the natural form. But, using the whole family of E members would dramatically increase health benefits due to synergistic actions. See Here.

The articles referenced above illustrate this vital point such as this article on Brain health. Thus, the analysis is that while this is a pretty good story as far as it goes, it still promotes ingrained vitamin myths and misinformation and did not dig deep enough to give the consuming Public the whole story. Almost none of the many other articles examined so far accomplish this whole truth either. That is the reason for this website.

BOTTOM LINE: The vitamin forms science is testing are failing to provide and exhibit consistent benefits. It is time to change the forms and dosages. Here is the vitamin criteria to look for in a proper multiple vitamin.  

Article Analysis- Vitamins and Cancer risk

Here is the article to read for analysis.This article is from the Science-Based Medicine group. It reports to show vitamins increase cancer risk and / or speed up growth. The authors cite 2 studies plus one of their own here. The main two studies include the SELECT prostate cancer study, and the Finnish ATBC study showing that Beta Carotene increased lung cancer rate in smokers and those exposed to abestos.

The SELECT study looked at the effects of vitamin E and selenium on prostate cancer. There is an article on this website that effectively deals with this SELECT study. The real result from the viamin E wing of the SELECT study should have reported that "the use of synthetic form of vitamin E slightly increases prostate cancer risk" and that form should not be consumed, at least not by itself. To look at differences between natural and synthetic vitamin E, go here. But this does not let natural vitamin E off the hook since the results may very well have been the same if a natural isolated form of vitamin E was used. In nature, there are 8 different forms of natural vitamin E as alpha, beta, delta, and gamma tocopherols and the same four as tocotrienols. The US Government only allows one of these to be called viamin E, alpha tocopherol. Look at this next result from a study on vitamin E forms: "In 2012, Yang & colleagues stated "that animal studies on colon, lung, breast, and prostate cancers found that gamma and delta tocopherols prevented cancer formation and growth...while the vitamin E form, d'alpha tocopherol, provided no such benefit."

Have Scientists been using the wrong vitamin E form(s)? Read this article, prepare to be shocked. And this next reference really tells a tall SELECT study tail. The SELECT study started a year after the publication of the last referenced study which mentioned different vitamin E forms should be used for prostate cancer research, but the SELECT only used just one, and a synthetic form, too. DID the SELECT study authors set out to FAIL? 

The totality of research on vitamin E has many Scientists now questioning the past wisdom of FDA's decision about what is vitamin E.

There is a little recognized fact concerning vitamin E. It is used up faster in the body when diets are higher in omega fats and oils. These oils need to be protected from turning rancid, and vitamin E is the choice for preventing fat or lipid oxidation in the body.

The Finnish ATBC study on Beta Carotene and the CARET study in the United States

The Finnish study reported higher lung cancer risk with synthetic beta carotene consumption by smokers. Again, it is important for the results to be put into this perspective, only 1 more cancer per thousand, from 5-6, plus the amounts of the synthetic beta carotene were 5-10 times higher than normal dietary amounts of natural beta carotene which is a mixture of different forms. Synthetic beta carotene is only one form, the one thought to provide most of the action. The study of the different carotenoids is very complex and difficult to figure out. But until science does nail down, staying with the natural carotene forms appears to be wise. ref

Here is an article that explains what Scientists later discovered was happening here that changed the synthetic beta carotene from an anti-oxidant into a pro-oxidant. ref ref There is also a logical finding for the results that beta carotene in higher amounts should not be consumed in the synthetic form by smokers. Copied here from the above linked article is the result of a 2001 study, "beta-crytoxanthin levels were the only individual carotenoid family member related to a significant reduced risk of lung cancers in smokers. But together, higher total carotenoids exhibited a 37% reduction in lung cancer risks for smokers versus those with lower than normal total carotenoid amounts."

Eat vegetables and fruits. Beta-crytoxanthin is found in yellow apples, apricots, cantaloupe, lemon, mangoes, nectarines, papayas, oranges, tangerines, carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, yellow tomatoes, and yellow winter squash.

This next reference looks at the lessons learned from the ATBC and CARET studies. ref Valuable points are raised, especially about how larger dosages of vital but synthetic nutrients can block out absorption of related nutrients. Or that influenced by conditions already present in the body, large doses of nutrients can change direction of reactions and exhibit opposite functions. Like an anti-oxidant turning into a pro-oxidant under an unbalanced redox system. ref The study that revealed antioxidant vitamins made colds last longer is one example. Body defences were trying to kill viruses by generating free radicals, but the antioxidant vitamins neutralized them before such actions. Another review with recommendations for vital points from Australian Government agency.