Pharmavite Calls for Balanced Reporting on Vitamin E Analysis

Posted on: Tuesday, 16 November 2004, 15:00 CST

NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Nov. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Pharmavite, makers of
Nature Made(R) vitamins and supplements said the conclusions drawn by
Johns Hopkins researchers on vitamin E use and increased mortality
risk are misleading because the researchers only looked at a select,
limited group of studies. The researcher's conclusions appeared in
the November 10 online edition of The Annals of Internal Medicine.

"This analysis focused on a carefully selected group of earlier
published clinical studies whose populations suffered from a number
of grave diseases where there was a very high risk of mortality to
begin with, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancer,
cardiovascular disease and more," said Dave Madsen, Ph.D., Pharmavite
director of scientific affairs. "The researchers chose not to review
long term studies of the general population which demonstrate vitamin
E's positive health benefits, including the Nurses Study, the Finnish
Study and the Iowa Women's Study." (1) (2) (3)

For example, a study of approximately 90,000 nurses suggested that
the incidence of heart disease was 30 to 40 percent lower among
nurses with the highest intake of vitamin E from diet and
supplements. Researchers found that the apparent benefit was mainly
associated with intake of vitamin E from dietary supplements. High
vitamin E intake from food was not associated with significant
cardiac risk reduction.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and a powerful antioxidant that
has been touted for its numerous health benefits, including a study
by Johns Hopkins researchers published in the Annals of Neurology
showing that 400 IUs of vitamin E, taken in concert with 500 mg of
vitamin C, reduced the risk of Alzheimer's by 60 percent. (4)

"There is a great body of evidence documenting the proven health
benefits of Vitamin E. People who want to maintain good health should
consume 100 to 400 IUs of vitamin E every day, in addition to
maintaining a healthy diet," says Carroll Reider, M.S., R.D.,
Pharmavite director of consumer education.

Madsen reported other weaknesses in the analysis including the fact
that only nine of the studies reviewed had people taking vitamin E
alone, and that 18 of the 19 studies analyzed had no statistically
significant increase in mortality. Further, the Institute of Medicine
(IOM) has set the upper tolerable intake level for vitamin E at 1,000
mg or 1,600 IUs per day.

Madsen said, "The IOM defines upper limit as 'the maximum intake of a
nutrient that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects in
almost all healthy individuals in the general population.' It will
take more than one skewed analysis of pre-existing studies to refute
this long-standing guideline.

"The bottom line: Overwhelming evidence supports that vitamin E is
safe when taken as recommended and has proven health benefits for
healthy people."

People concerned about Vitamin E can get the facts at Nature Made's
Wellness Advisor at http://www.naturemade.com/ or by calling 1800-276-
2878.

About Pharmavite LLC

For more than 30 years, Pharmavite has earned and maintained the
trust of pharmacists, consumers, and retailers by manufacturing high-
quality vitamins, minerals, herbs and other dietary supplements that
are safe, effective and science-based. An industry leader, Pharmavite
adheres to manufacturing standards recommended by the United States
Pharmacopeia (USP), a not-for-profit organization that has set
pharmaceutical and dietary supplement quality standards since 1820.
In addition, Pharmavite participates in USP's Verification Program
for dietary supplements.

The dietary supplement industry is regulated by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission, as well as by
government agencies in each of the 50 states.

(1) Stampfer MJ, Hennekens CH, Manson JE, Colditz GA, Rosner B,
Willett WC. Vitamin E consumption and the risk of coronary disease in
women. N Engl J Med 1993;328:1444-9.

(2) Knekt P, Reunanen A, Jarvinen R, Seppanen R, Heliovaara M, Aromaa
A. Antioxidant vitamin intake and coronary mortality in a
longitudinal population study. Am J Epidemiol 1994;139:1180-9.

(3) Bostick RM, Potter JD, McKenzie DR, Sellers TA, Kushi LH,
Steinmetz KA, Folsom AR. Reduced risk of colon cancer with high
intakes of vitamin E: The Iowa Women's Health Study. Cancer Res 1993;
15:4230-17.

(4) Zandi, P. Archives of Neurology, January 2004; vol 61: pp 82-88.
Pharmavite LLC CONTACT: Sabrena Umhey or Traci Gavzer, both of
Pharmavite News Bureau,toll-free, +1-877-866-2539, or 24 hours, +1-
310-663-4107, [log in to unmask]
Web site: http://www.naturemade.com/

SOURCE: RedNova.com, TX
http://www.rednova.com/news/display/?id=103586

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