23 February 2015
According to a new study people with higher blood vitamin E concentrations seem to have a lower risk of developing a chronic inflammation of the gum.
The study analyzed data of 4708 participants of the large US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) measuring serum vitamin E (tocopherols) levels and assessing periodontal status (1). The study results showed that participants with relatively low serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations had a significantly increased risk for periodontitis. These findings were independent of potential demographic,lifestyle, and biologic confounding factors.
The researchers commented that oxidative stress seems to play a central role in the development of periodontitis, a highly prevalent, microbially induced chronic inflammatory disease, characterized by loss of supporting periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. A well-accepted biologic function of vitamin E is its antioxidant activity, although other possible effects have been suggested, such as cofactors for enzymes and transcription factors for inflammatory and other metabolic pathways (2). The new findings warrant further confirmation in intervention settings.
25 February 2015
A new national survey reports that in the average population the use of supplements does not take them over the tolerable upper intake limits of minerals and trace elements.
20 December 2010
Adequate sun exposure plus vitamin D supplementation could reduce the risk of breast cancer, says a French study.
1 January 2013
Despite concerns that have been expressed about possible health risks from high intake of vitamin E, a new review concludes that biological mechanisms exist to routinely eliminate excess levels of the vitamin, and they make it almost impossible to take a harmful amount.
