High Serum Vitamin E Level Found to Indicate Reduced Mortality Risk.

Studies investigating blood levels of vitamin E and mortality have shown conflicting results. Now a large study has confirmed that vitamin E sufficiency improves longevity. Researchers from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Public Health Institute of Finland found that higher serum levels of vitamin E reduce the risk of both total and cause-specific mortality. The Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) prospective cohort study evaluated 29,092 Finnish men between aged 50–69 years who were smokers.

Researchers found that those with the highest blood concentrations of vitamin E were the least likely to die during a 19 year follow-up period. During follow-up, 13,380 deaths were reported, including 4,518 from cancer and 5,776 from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Men in the highest quintile of serum alpha-tocopherol had 18% reduced risk of total mortality, compared to those in the lowest quintile. Additionally, the risks of deaths due to cancer, CVD and other causes were reduced by 21%, 19% and 30%, respectively. Researchers concluded that higher circulating levels of alpha-tocopherol helped lower mortality in older male smokers. The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (84, 5:1200-7, 2006).