Vitamin E Critical in So Many Ways

Amid conflicting reports about the need for vitamin E and how much is enough, a new analysis published today suggests that adequate levels of this essential micronutrient are especially critical for the very young, the elderly, and women who are or may become pregnant.

A lifelong proper intake of vitamin E is also important, researchers said, but often complicated by the fact that this nutrient is one of the most difficult to obtain through diet alone. It has been estimated that only a tiny fraction of Americans consume enough dietary vitamin E to meet the estimated average requirement.

Some of the best dietary sources of vitamin E -- nuts, seeds, spinach, wheat germ and sunflower oil -- don't generally make the highlight list of an average American diet. One study found that people who are highly motivated to eat a proper diet consume almost enough vitamin E, but broader surveys show that 90 percent of men and 96 percent of women don't consume the amount currently recommended, 15 milligrams per day for adults.

Findings from the Advances in Nutrition study:

• Inadequate vitamin E is associated with increased infection, anemia, stunting of growth and poor outcomes during pregnancy for both the infant and mother.
• Overt deficiency, especially in children, can cause neurological disorders, muscle deterioration, and even cardiomyopathy.
• Critically important to the early development of the nervous system in embryos, in part because it protects the function of omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA, which is important for brain health. The most sensitive organs include the head, eye and brain.
• Vitamin E supplements seem to benefit slowing progression in those with Alzheimer's disease.
• Elderly with a lifelong dietary pattern that resulted in higher levels of vitamins B,C, D and E had larger brain size and higher cognitive function.
• The most compelling evidence about vitamin E is about a 1000-day window that begins at conception. It is critical to neurologic and brain development that can only happen during that period. It's not something you can make up for later.