Vitamin E Overuse | Medical Health Information and Story

VIitamin E Overuse

There is an important health warning tonight for you and your family. Vitamin E, which had at one point been thought to help promote health and well-being, has been shown to be harmful in several ways. Yet, many are still taking it in doses deemed potentially dangerous. Patricia Jordan had high blood pressure and thought taking Vitamin E would be helpful in preventing heart disease. “When I took the Vitamin E I believe it was 600 IUs,” says Patricia.

We now know that such a large dosage of Vitamin E can cause problems. "I was taking it and then I came across information that it may be harmful. So I spoke to my doctor about it and she told me to stop taking it immediately," says Patricia. But what has medical experts worried is that, unlike Patricia, many people continue to be unaware of the harmful effects of Vitamin E.

The latest research in the annals of internal medicine shows that 11% of adults are still taking at least 400 IU of vitamin E each day in supplement form. This, in spite of the fact that recent studies have shown that there is no clear benefit to taking Vitamin E, and that an intake of 400 IU or more of Vitamin E is associated with an increased risk of congestive heart failure in those with vascular disease or diabetes.

Dr. Maryanne McLaughlin, an Assistant Professor of Cardiology at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, says, "I have patients who are coming to me who are taking 800 units of vitamin E." Dr. McLaughlin says the numbers of people still taking Vitamin E is a serious issue. "We would suggest that patients eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, and green leafy vegetables. Those are foods with safe levels of Vitamin E. The fact that Vitamin E is available over the counter doesn’t mean that it’s completely safe."

It was thought that Vitamin E could prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer, and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s, but the new findings indicate that Vitamin E could also do the body harm. However, most experts maintain that low dosages of Vitamin E, such as those contained in a typical multivitamin, are safe.