Vitamin E

A recent article in JAMA showed that low vitamin E levels in the serum were associated with a decline in physical performance in elderly patients over a three year period. There was no association between a physical decline and the serum levels of vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin D or iron. The study was done in the Tuscany region of Italy. The investigators tested the subjects on walking speed, repeated rises from a chair, and standing balance tests. Very few subjects were taking multivitamins so the vitamin E was from the diet. This may mean that those people who had a better diet were more likely to keep their physical function but the association was found only with vitamin E and no other micronutrient.

What does this mean to you? I think it at least means that you should eat foods rich in vitamin E such as tomato sauce, sunflower seeds, almonds, and peanuts. I would also consider taking a vitamin E supplement. The AREDS dose was 400 IU a day. I would not take more than that however, since the AREDS dose is twenty times the daily requirement and higher doses of vitamin E may increase the risk of heart disease.

Reference:

1. Bartali B, Frongillo EA, Gurlnik JM, Stipanuk MH, Allore HG, Cherubini A, Bandinelli S, Ferrucci L, Gill TM. “Serum Micronutrient Concentrations and Decline in Physical Function Among Older Persons.” JAMA. 2008; 299(3):308-315.