Vitamin E May Fight Colds & Maintain Respiratory Health

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Research: Vitamin E May Fight Colds & Maintain Respiratory Health

Source ProHealthNetwork.com

Vitamin E supplementation has potential benefit in fighting upper respiratory

tract infections such as colds in the elderly, says a study published in the

Aug.

18 issue of JAMA.

According to the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), one of the dietary

supplement industry's leading trade associations, this is one more positive

study to add to the mounting scientific evidence that vitamin E is beneficial

for

improved immune function in the elderly.

Vitamin E comes from fats, oils, meats, poultry, fish, legumes, nuts, and soy

and is a fat-soluble vitamin that exists in eight different forms. Each form has

its own biological activity, the measure of potency or functional use in the

body. Alpha-tocopherol is the most active form of vitamin E in humans, and is

a powerful biological antioxidant.

Antioxidants such as vitamin E act to protect your cells against the effects of

free radicals, which are potentially damaging by-products of the body's

metabolism. Free radicals can cause cell damage that may contribute to the

development of cardiovascular disease.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, conducted by Simin

Nikbin Meydani, D.V.M., Ph.D., and colleagues at Tufts University, included

617 elderly, long-term care facility patients.

All patients were given a multivitamin with 50 percent of the recommended

daily allowance (RDA) of key micronutrients; 311 of the patients were given

an additional daily capsule of 200 IU vitamin E, while the control group of 306

were given a placebo. Fewer people in the vitamin E group suffered one or

more upper respiratory tract infections. The researchers also observed that

those given the vitamin E supplement had a 20 percent lower risk of catching

a cold than the participants given the placebo. There was no effect on lower

respiratory tract infections.

The protective effect of vitamin E against upper respiratory tract infections,

particularly the common cold, shown in this study is very promising, especially

given the preponderance of such illnesses in the elderly and the potential for

colds to lead to more severe illness. As the study authors explain,

" Respiratory tract infections are prevalent in elderly individuals, resulting in

increased morbidity, mortality, and use of health care services. "

CRN President Annette Dickinson, Ph.D., says of the study, " This study further

illuminates the importance of vitamin E supplementation for the elderly, who

are generally at risk for nutrient inadequacy.

It is recognized that nutrition has a major impact on disease resistance, and

Meydani's group has previously shown that vitamin E supplementation

improves measures of immune response. The current study shows an impact

on actual disease incidence. "

Dr. Dickinson noted that all of the participants in both the placebo and vitamin

E groups were given a low-dose multivitamin, since nursing home residents

are known to be prone to inadequate intakes.

She said, " This was good procedure, and some experts have advocated that

multivitamins be provided to nursing home residents as a matter of policy to

avoid the consequences of inadequate nutrient intakes. However, it is

possible that the multivitamin attenuated the effects of the vitamin E

supplement. "

In the JAMA article, the authors conclude that the study's findings " suggest

important implications for the well-being of the elderly " and call for future

studies to further assess the effect of vitamin E supplementation on the

common cold, incorporating more detailed analysis on the nutrient's effect on

specific pathogens.