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Vitamin E: Cancer Cause or Cure?
By Linda | November 1, 2008
If you are to believe the recent news, taking vitamin E may lead to prostate cancer and taking selenium to diabetes, in men. The National Cancer Institute’s recent SELECT study was expected to show vitamin E reduced risk of prostate cancer in men, just as other studies show. The study was stopped early because men taking the vitamin E suffered slightly more cases of prostate cancer and those on the selenium had slightly more diabetes. No proof was shown however.
Here’s the rub. The vitamin E used in this study was the synthetic form: dl-alpha tocopherol acetate. If you have this form, throw it out. Health professionals who read the medical and nutrition literature have known for many years this form of vitamin E is toxic and may lead to cancer. It should be off the market. But it’s cheap and it helps mar the image of supplements that threaten pharmaceutical company interests.
Naturally occurring vitamin E is structurally different from this synthetic form used in this study; it contains four different tocopherols and four tocotrienols, all playing roles in health and protecting against cancer. Synthetic vitamin E is thought to create a deficiency of natural vitamin E. Thousands of studies show that natural vitamin E protects against cancer and many even show how it does, in other words the mechanism of cancer prevention.
Thousands of studies also show selenium also protects against cancer and many other viruses. Other studies show selenium reduces risk of diabetes. Unfortunately in this study the dose used was so low, it was unlikely to have any effect. In addition, this group of men were likely using a statin to control blood cholesterol. Statins block the antioxidant activity of selenium, leading to a host of potential health problems. These patients should have been accounted for.
A similar thing happened with studies on beta-carotene. Carotenes work as a team. Use of synthetic beta-carotene alone can lead to deficiencies of other carotenes and thus increased risk of health problems, especially in those with compromised health to begin with.
Why would researchers make these kinds of mistakes? Or are these mistakes? Follow the money. Just as in finance, many government leaders also represent industry. The National Cancer Institute (NCI), a federally funded research and development center, played an early role in development of many cancer drugs – two thirds of drugs approved by the FDA by 1995 in fact. The NCI is in partnership with pharmaceutical companies in funding research. Why would drug companies want an inexpensive, nonpatentable cancer-fighting product out there? Natural vitamin E is bad for the drug business.
November 1st, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Linda - some good info here +sound reasoning. thank you for clarifying things here + also letting us know about why it is important to get the right form of Vit E…. I didn’t realize that the cheap Vit E was synthetic - and can’t believe i didn’t think of this. Guess I WILL throw away any of the cheap stuff + get good Vit E. How much Selenium do you suggest? and that would have to be what is in with my whole foods vits plus the separate selenium…
November 8th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
I am sure all of us are running to our Vitamin E bottles. I currently have Solgar’s Vitamin E (as D-alpha tocopherol plus D-beta tocopherol, D-Delta Tocopherol and D-Gamma tocopherol. I had a tough time finding Vit. E without the D-Alpha Tocopherol.
Is this okay to take? If not, what brands do you recommend?
November 9th, 2008 at 10:23 am
As far as selenium goes, you can take up to 400 micrograms. Interestingly, you can get a fair amount of selenium with just a few Brazil nuts.
As for your vitamin E, Andria, Solgar’s E is perfect. It is the DL alpha form you don’t want, the D-alpha form is part of the natural complex.
November 10th, 2008 at 8:03 am
I find it so sad that studies are altered and then presented to the masses in such ways. The majority of people will read this type of study and be swayed about the ‘now-toxic Vitamin E.” I have heard so many people say “What is good for you anymore? I give up! They will then proceed to ‘give up’ on taking vitamins and eating healthy because when they turn around they learn that a ‘healthy option’ is now bad for them. They return to their poor eating habits and their health does not improve.
Why are the big companies doing this? I understand why now. This infuriates me as does the massive increase in the amount of vaccines we are recommended to give our children these days….that is another way of these drug companies getting even richer….oh, but that is another subject another day….
Thank you Linda for your ‘OK’ on the Vit E I am taking….
November 17th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Linda,
I just saw the headline on the news that read “Vitamin E or C do not prevent cancer”. So, this must be what you are talking about. Can you further explain why this ’study’ benefits the drug business?
So disturbing….thank you!
November 24th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Andria:
Thank you for being patient with me. I have been off speaking to Kaiser Permanente on this and other issues and couldn’t get to my blog. You inspired, however, me to post on this whole issue of vitamins having no effect or being harmful. As always, you can follow the money. See my latest post.
December 1st, 2008 at 10:28 pm
I can’t believe how difficult this is for the average person to understand. Reading your post it makes perfect sense, but to the person shopping at Costco and just grabbing the 400 pill bottle of vitamin E, they have no idea about synthetic vs natural. It is especially infuriating because I have read many times that there is no difference in effectiveness between natural and synthetic vitamins. Even just common sense should lead the authors of those articles to question that assertion, but they don’t.
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