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Vitamin E May Help Reduce Alzheimer's Risk! |
Reduced Risk of Alzheimer's Disease Associated with
High Levels of Vitamin E
Source: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
Senile dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are progressive, degenerative, neurological disorders that result in memory impairment and deterioration in cognitive function, reasoning, and behavior of the individual. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia - accounting for more than 60 percent of late life disorders of cognitive dysfunction. The loss of intellectual function initially interferes with daily life, and after a disease course that may last many years, eventually results in death. Death is usually due to factors such as compromised nutrition, complications of the immune system (pneumonia, sepsis, other infections), trauma, or aspiration.
Vitamin E is actually a group of eight compounds including four tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta) and four additional tocotrienol derivatives. Alpha tocopherol is the most common and the most potent form. It is what is usually meant by the term vitamin E. Pure vitamin E compounds are easily oxidized, so they are manufactured as acetate or succinate esters. Evidence suggests that oxidative stress is important in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. A compound known as beta-amyloid, which occurs abundantly in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients, is capable of inflicting free radical damage on brain cells. It has been shown that vitamin E can prevent the oxidative damage induced by beta-amyloidal and delay the onset of memory deficits in animal models.
In a recent study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease researchers investigated the association between the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease and blood levels of eight forms of vitamin E. The study involved 232 subjects aged 80+ years and were followed for 6 years. The subjects vitamin E plasma levels (alpha-, beta-, gamma, and delta-tocopherol; alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-tocotrienol) were measured at the beginning of the trial and at the end of the trial. Subjects with high plasma levels of total tocopherols, total tocotrienols, or total vitamin E had a reduced risk of developing AD in comparison to subjects with the lowest levels. A combination of the different forms of vitamin E seems to have more of a neuroprotective effect instead of alpha-tocopherol alone. The authors concluded that “High plasma levels of vitamin E are associated with a reduced risk of AD in advanced age.”1
1 Mangialasche F, Kivipelto M, Mecocci P, et al. High Plasma Levels of Vitamin E Forms and Reduced Alzheimer's Disease Risk in Advanced Age. J Alzheimers Dis. Apr2010.
(Find original article here) |
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Tocotrienols Found to Induce Cell Death in Human Breast Cancer Cells |
University of Texas, US, Finds Tocotrienols at Low Levels, as a potent Natural Vitamin E to Induce Apoptosis (Cell Death) in Human Breast Cancer Cells
March 15th, 2000
In a recent (1999) publication in the prestigious journal of Nutrition and Cancer, researchers at the University of Texas, US, joined four other research institutions worldwide, in confirming that tocotrienols, especially the delta-tocotrienol, are potent inhibitor of human breast cancer cells by inducing cell death (apoptosis)in them.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, excluding non-melanoma skin cancers. The American Cancer Society estimates that in the year 2000, about 182,800 new cases of invasive breast cancer (stage I - IV) will be diagnosed among women in the United States. Breast cancer also occurs in men. An estimated 14,000 cases will be diagnosed among men. The incidence of breast cancer has more than doubled over the past 30 years. In 1964, the lifetime risk was 1 in 20 women. Today, it is 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. It is sad to say that breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in the world.
The usual treatments for breast cancers are surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and chemo-therapy. The drug, Tamoxifen is the widely used hormone therapy for women who already have breast cancers. The down side of Tamoxifen is that long-term treatment increases a woman¡¦s chance of three rare but serious health problems: endometrial cancer, pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lung) and deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in a major vein).
Tocotrienol's ability to inhibit and induce the apoptosis of breast cancer cells, may be an additional natural way of supplement (in addition to the drug treatment, chemo and radiation therapy recommended by surgeon) for women who have developed breast cancer and for women who have a family history of breast cancer.
In the study carried out at the University of Texas, Austin, the apoptosis-inducing properties of natural RRR-α-, β-, γ-, δ-tocopherols, α-, γ-, δ-tocotrienols, RRR-α-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E acetate) and RRR-ƒÑ-tocopheryl succinate (vitamin E succinate) were investigated in estrogen-responsive MCF7 and estrogen-nonresponsive MDA-MB-435 human breast cancer cell lines. Vitamin E succinate, a known inducer of apoptosis in several cell lines, including human breast cancer cells, served as a positive control. The results of the study found that estrogen-responsive MCF7 cells were more susceptible than the estrogen-nonresponsive MDA-MB-435 cells. Delta-tocotrienol was found be the most potent inducer of apoptosis in both types of human breast cancer cells and was twice as potent as gamma-tocotrienol in inducing apoptosis.
With the exception of RRR-δ-tocopherol, the tocopherols (alpha, beta and gamma-tocopherol) and RRR-α-tocopheryl acetate were ineffective in induction of apoptosis in both cell lines when tested within the range of their solubility, i.e., 10 - 200μg/ml.
In summary, these studies demonstrate that naturally occurring tocotrienols and delta-tocopherol are effective to induce cell deaths of human breast cancer cells, irrespective of estrogen receptor status. The ability of tocotrienols, especially delta-tocotrienol at low levels, to induce human breast cancer to undergo cell death, makes this compound a promising natural and side-effect free candidate for possible chemotherapeutic use.
Tocotrienol may be a new word to many. It sounds much like the more familiar ¡§tocopherol¡¨. Indeed, tocotrienols are related to tocopherols. Both tocotrienols and tocopherols are Vitamin E. Tocotrienols differ from tocopherols in their molecular structure only by having an unsaturated isoprenoid side chain. Tocopherols have saturated side chain, ie : lacking double bonds. Tocotrienols are widely distributed in the plant kingdom, with the highest concentration found in palm oil. They are also found in grains such as barley, rice bran, oats, etc. In comparison, delta-tocotrienol is found in significantly high level in the fruits of oil palm (highest in nature) but low or absent in other sources.
Possible clues to how tocotrienols inhibit cancer cell proliferation may be attributed to the following mechanisms 1. by reducing of protein kinase C activity in human breast cancer cells (Guthrie et al., 1997), 2. by affecting the tyrosine phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (Carroll, et al.), 3. by suppression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, the rate limiting enzyme for cholesterol synthesis (Elson & Qureshi et al., 1995). The Palm Oil Research Institute of Malaysia (PORIM) and Carotech have embarked on a double-blind clinical human study to determine possible therapeutic applications.
Individuals who are diagnosed with breast cancer may want to consider supplementing their diet with natural tocotrienols vitamin E as part of a long-term nutritional plan, in addition to the therapeutic treatments recommended by their physicians. Most of the palm tocotrienols supplements in the market contain typically 30 - 50mg of tocotrienols per capsules.
Source: NPI Center
A.C. GRACE COMPANY COMMENT: Although this is an older article, we feel it is important to show that Tocotrienols have been studied for more than a decade and are recently a very recognized Vitamin E supplement for use in your diet. Tocotrienenols, especially the superior function of delta-tocotrienol, have been found to provide benefits in managing cholesterol levels and cardiovascular disease, to influence metabolic syndrome and diabetes, and shows potential in cancer and chemoprevention. Read about A.C. Grace Company's high delta-tocotrieniol UNIQUE E® Tocotrienols here.
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CRN Responds to Reader's Digest Article About Vitamins |
CRN Counters Reader’s Digest’s Vitamin Myths
Reader's Digest says a daily multivitamin is a waste of money for most people and offers five “truths” about vitamins. However, CRN said the article fails to put the science into perspective, while cherry-picking through the scientific literature.
Douglas MacKay, N.D., vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs, Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), said vitamins and other dietary supplements play an important role in helping promote and maintain overall health and wellness. He said vitamins can fill nutrient gaps, help prevent neural tube birth defects, and support heart health, bone health, joint health, digestive health and more.
The Reader’s Digest article, written by Christie Aschwanden offers five “myths” of vitamins, with the first being multivitamins can make up for a bad diet. She highlighted last year’s Women's Health Initiative study that concluded multivitamin-takers do not have fewer cases of cancer, heart disease or stroke than those who do not take them. She said many foods are now fortified with vitamins, so most Americans will not be deficient. However, Aschwanden did say women of reproductive age should take a multivitamin as insurance in case of pregnancy, mostly for the folate content.
MacKay said while taking a multivitamin does not replace a healthy diet, multivitamins can act as an insurance policy to help get essential nutrients when diets fall short. He noted, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), many Americans, including children and adolescents, fail to consume recommended amounts of vitamins E, C, D, and A, as well as calcium and magnesium. And data from the National Marine Fisheries Service shows that on average, Americans don’t eat enough fish. In December 2009, he said, the American Dietetic Association issued an updated position paper on nutrient supplementation, which acknowledged additional nutrients from supplements can help some people meet their nutrition needs.
The second myth offered in the Reader’s Digest article is that vitamin C fights colds, noting a 2007, study of more than 11,000 subjects that found vitamin C didn't ward off colds, except among marathoners, skiers and soldiers on subarctic exercises. However MacKay said a meta-analysis showed taking vitamin C may reduce the duration of a cold by 8 percent in adults and more than 13 percent in children, though he pointed out the research is not conclusive.
Next, Aschwanden tackles vitamin pills’ effect on heart disease. She noted an analysis of seven vitamin E trials concluded that it didn't cut the risk of stroke or of death from heart disease. That same study also concluded eight beta-carotene studies that found those supplements produced a slight increase in the risk of death. She further mentions “other big studies” have shown vitamin C does not reduce heart disease and she said research showed B vitamins cut homocysteine levels, but that doesn’t reduce heart problems.
Mackay countered by saying omega-3 fatty acids are widely accepted by healthcare professionals, as well as scientific organizations, for helping reduce inflammation, lowering triglyceride levels and contributing to a healthy heart and blood vessels. He said the American Heart Association states patients with coronary artery disease may need to supplement with omega-3s for heart disease risk reduction.
Aschwanden also wrote vitamins don’t protect against cancer, saying many studies have tried and failed to find a benefit. She noted a recent one that randomly assigned 5,442 women to take either a placebo or a B-vitamin combo over the course of more than seven years. Researchers found all the women experienced similar rates of cancers and cancer deaths. Mackay noted this same study found following an eating pattern lower in total fat did not significantly reduce the incidence of breast cancer, heart disease or stroke, and did not reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in healthy postmenopausal women, but health professional aren’t discounting previously established evidence and recommendations that a low-fat diet may decrease the risk of heart disease. He said these studies are part of whole body of research that need to be viewed in context.
Mackay added studies have shown dietary supplement use has been associated with decreased risk of chronic diseases in numerous observational studies involving tens of thousands of people, and in some studies the benefit has increased with long-term use. For example, he said, a study published in the February 2010 issue of Cancer Research found that leafy green vegetables, folate and multivitamin use appeared to offer protection against lung cancer. Another study found women with higher intakes of calcium from both food and supplements—up to 1,300 milligrams (mg)/day—appear to have a lower risk of cancer overall, and both men and women with high calcium intakes have lower risks of colorectal cancer and other cancers of the digestive system.
Lastly, she wrote it is dangerous to think vitamin supplements may not help, but they won’t hurt either. She quoted Demetrius Albanes, MD, a nutritional epidemiologist at the National Cancer Institute. He said a study showed beta-carotene pills increased the risk of lung cancer and deaths among male smokers who took the supplement. The article said other studies have raised concerns that taking high doses of folic acid could raise the risk of colon cancer.
The safety of supplement use is well established, said Mackay, who pointed out more than 150 million Americans use dietary supplements each year, and yet for the first full year (2008) that it was mandated by law that companies report serious adverse events to FDA, the agency reported only 672 serious adverse events. He does say it’s wise to engage healthcare professionals in dialogue about the dietary supplements, and it is important to always follow the directions on the label and not take more than is recommended.
Sources:
• Council for Responsible Nutrition: CRN RESPONDS TO READERS DIGEST ARTICLE
• Reader’s Digest : 5 Vitamin Truths and Lies
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BREAKING NEWS -- Senator McCain Backs Away From Proposed Bill |
Where Does Dietary Supplement Bill S. 3002 Stand Today?
John Gay | Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer | Natural Products Association
March 8, 2010
Senator McCain intends to back away from enforcing S. 3002 bill as it was presented.
After a whirlwind of activity late last week, I wanted to give you an update on where things stand with S. 3002, the Dietary Supplement Safety Act proposed by Senators John McCain and Byron Dorgan.
Senator McCain has told our Congressional champion Sen. Orrin Hatch that he intends to back away from S. 3002, and work with Hatch on amendments to the Food Safety Bill (S. 510) and the DSHEA full implementation legislation. McCain will not push any of the provisions of S. 3002 that we objected to, but will support S. 510's language on recall and registration. He also will seek language pushing for new dietary ingredient (NDI) guidance from the Food and Drug Administration, and to encourage more cooperation between the FDA and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The NPA will need to keep an eye on these talks as they progress. Sen. Dorgan also is reportedly backing off S. 3002.
While McCain's shift is good news (and evidence of the effectiveness of grassroots), we should not let up our campaign, because the bill could easily be picked up by another member of Congress.
Keep in mind that things change. Thursday night we were told that McCain was soon introducing a reworked bill. By Friday morning, McCain had committed to working with Hatch. While this change is encouraging, the possibility remains that discussions could fail.
I want to thank you for your advocacy efforts so far, through your letters, e-mails and phone calls to your members of Congress, and through your efforts to keep your customers informed about this threat to our industry. Please continue to educate your legislators as well as your customers. I also wish to express our appreciation to all members of Congress who support our efforts, particularly Sens. Hatch, Tom Harkin, and Michael Enzi.
We will continue to provide you with updates about any changes to the bill's status. |
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