 |
 |
Here is an excellent short article on Vitamin E ....... Bon Apetit ! Vitamin E By Sheree L. Loftus, M.S.N., R.N.C., Coordinator, National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence at Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A word of caution: vitamins are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The US Pharmacopeia (USP) has distributed guidelines for the manufacture of vitamins. If a vitamin meets the USP standards, the label will indicate this. What is a vitamin? Vitamins are vital, organic dietary substances that are not proteins, carbohydrates or fats. Vitamins are crucial for biologic function and disease prevention. They cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained by eating a variety of healthy foods. What is a free radical? Human beings use oxygen as fuel to power the body. The breakdown of this fuel produces byproducts that are known as free radicals. These charged particles (free radicals) will steal an electron from another compound, rendering that compound unstable and setting up a chain reaction that damages vital cell structures. These chemical changes in the body may contribute to numerous diseases, and to the aging process itself. Free radicals release iron which is usually tightly bound to protein, and it is this free iron that is associated with Parkinson's disease. Recent evidence suggests that free radical damage may be a major factor in the degeneration of nerve cells in PD. What is an antioxidant? An antioxidant is a defense system in the body. It protects the body and combats the detrimental effects of free radicals. Free radicals can damage humans at the cellular level and cause diminished function in major organ systems. What is Vitamin E? Vitamin E is an antioxidant. Vitamin E is fat-soluble and depends on fat-related substances for absorption, transportation, and storage. It has many biologic activities. It is especially important for normal development of the nervous system and for maintaining neurological structure and function. Why is Vitamin E important? Vitamin E has many roles in the body. It protects our cell membranes from free radical damage within many different organs, among them, the brain, eye, prostate and heart. Practically speaking, this may result in delayed dependence for people with Alzheimer's, slowed macular degeneration, decreased risk for prostate cancer and diminished pain of arthritis. It may also lessen the risk of blood clots and heart attacks. Over a lifetime, Vitamin E may have some effect on slowing the progression of PD. This effect is not dramatic. The subtle benefits of Vitamin E need to be investigated further. Doses of Vitamin E The usual dose is 30 IU daily. The therapeutic dose for Parkinson's is 2000 IU daily. Vitamin E at 400 IU has been recommended to limit atherosclerosis, while 800 IU seems to be a usable dose for people with early Alzheimer's disease. It may be difficult to eat enough Vitamin E to increase the amount in the body to be therapeutic, and E supplements may be necessary. Synthetic vs. natural Vitamin E Natural E is more available to the body, but expensive. Research studies use synthetic E, and it is effective and less costly. One must consider cost as Vitamin E could potentially be taken for life. Alphatocopherol is the type of E most often used. Warnings The body does store E in fat. Vitamin E in large doses can cause diarrhea (E may prevent constipation), may lower your seizure threshold, and should not be taken with blood thinners as Vitamin E acts as a blood thinner. To tolerate larger doses of Vitamin E, it should be increased slowly. If you decide to take doses above 30 IU of Vitamin E, please speak with your health care provider. Overall, Vitamin E is safe, inexpensive, and has been shown to delay dependence in Alzheimer's, may help slow the progression of Parkinson's, supports the immune system and reproductive organs, limits atherosclerosis and can help repair the skin. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn