Vitamin E
 

[FONT="Book Antiqua"][B][CENTER][SIZE="5"]Vitamin E linked to lung cancer [/SIZE][/CENTER][/B]

[SIZE="4"]Taking high doses of vitamin E supplements can increase the risk of lung cancer, research suggests.

The US study of 77,000 people found taking 400 milligrams per day long-term increased cancer risk by 28% - with smokers at particular risk.

It follows warnings about similar risks of excessive beta-carotene use.

Writing in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, an expert said people should get their vitamins from fruit and veg.

Dr Tim Byers, from the University of Colorado, said a healthy, balanced diet meant people took in a whole range of beneficial nutrients and minerals, which might help to reduce cancer risk.

The researchers followed people aged between 50 and 76 for four years and looked at their average daily use of vitamin C and folic acid, and vitamin E supplements.

Over the course of the study, 521 people developed lung cancer.

Smoking, family history and age all had unsurprisingly strong links to cancer risk.

And while neither vitamin C or folic acid use had any effect on lung cancer risk, vitamin E use did.

The researchers extrapolated their findings, and concluded that over a decade, there was an additional 7% increase in risk for every 100 milligrams taken per day.

The vitamin E trend was most prominent among smokers, but was not confined to them.

Vitamin E is known to be an antioxidant - protecting cells from molecules called free radicals.

But the US researchers speculate that, in high doses, it may also act as a pro-oxidant - causing oxidation and therefore damage to cells.

[B][CENTER]'Toxic effects' [/CENTER][/B]

Dr Christopher Slatore of the University of Washington in Seattle, who led the study, said: "In contrast to the often assumed benefits or at least lack of harm, supplemental vitamin E was associated with a small increased risk of lung cancer.

"Future studies may focus on other components of fruits and vegetables that may explain the decreased risk of cancer that has been associated with fruit and vegetables.

"Meanwhile, our results should prompt clinicians to counsel patients that these supplements are unlikely to reduce the risk of lung cancer and may be detrimental."

But Henry Scowcroft, senior science information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "The jury's still very much out on whether vitamin and mineral supplements can affect cancer risk.

"Some studies suggest a benefit, but many others show no effect and some, like this one, suggest they may even increase risk."

He added: "Research repeatedly shows that a healthy, balanced diet can reduce your risk of some cancers while giving you all the vitamins you need.

"Quitting smoking remains the most effective way to avoid many cancers. There's no diet, or vitamin supplement, that could ever counter the toxic effects of cigarette smoke."

In 2002 a Finnish study of 29,000 male smokers found taking beta-carotene - which is converted into vitamin A in the body - was linked to an 18% increased risk of developing lung cancer[/SIZE]


[B][CENTER][SIZE="5"]Low vitamin E linked to asthma [/SIZE][/CENTER][/B]

[SIZE="4"]Expectant mums should ensure they get enough vitamin E as low levels during pregnancy increase the risk of asthma in the unborn child, UK experts say
Children of mothers who had the lowest intake were over five times more likely to have asthma than peers whose mothers had the highest vitamin E intakes.

Vitamin E has a beneficial effect on the developing lung, the University of Aberdeen researchers believe.

The first 16 weeks of pregnancy could be a critical time, researchers say.
By 16 weeks after conception the airways are fully developed in the embryo.

But lead researcher Dr Graham Devereux said vitamin E most likely had a dual effect - influencing both lung growth and airway inflammation.

He and his team studied 2,000 pregnant women and their children over a five-year period.

The children whose mothers fell into the lowest fifth for vitamin E intake during pregnancy were more likely to develop wheezing and asthma by their fifth birthday.

[B][CENTER]Essential nutrients[/CENTER][/B]

The children's own nutrient intake at the age of five did not appear to change the researchers' findings, which appear in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Earlier work by the team showed newborn babies of mothers with low vitamin E intakes had greater responses to dust mites and grass pollen. When these children reached two, they were also more likely to wheeze and have eczema than their peers.

Dr Devereux stressed: "Pregnant women should not take vitamin E just because of this study. They should eat a balanced, healthy diet.

"It is possible that declining intake of vitamin E in the last 50 years may have contributed to the increase in asthma in children," he said.

Currently, 1.1m children have asthma, and it is the most common long-term condition among children in the UK.

Dr Lyn Smurthwaite of Asthma UK said: "Eating a healthy, balanced diet at any time, but especially during pregnancy, makes sense and this study suggests simple modifications in a pregnant mother's diet may help protect her child from developing asthma by the age of five.

"Asthma UK is pleased to have funded this research which has the potential to provide a natural way of reducing childhood asthma."

[B][CENTER]Triggers [/CENTER][/B]

Dr Keith Prowse, chairman of the British Lung Foundation, said: "This is an important piece of research which indicates that maternal diet may be more important in childhood asthma than previously thought.

"Good nutrition plays an important role in fighting infection, including respiratory infections which can often trigger asthma.

"Eating healthily is especially important for pregnant women, including taking the daily recommended intake of vitamin E.

"We'd like to see more research into the full role of maternal dietary factors in relation to childhood asthma."

Foods rich in vitamin E include vegetable oils, margarine, nuts and sunflower seeds.


Source:BBC news[/FONT][/SIZE]