Health & Wellbeing

Studies on the use of high dose Vitamin E in mice by Spanish and Argentinean researchers (1) confirmed a 40% increase in the lifespan of these animals, attributed to Vitamin E's powerful antioxidant effects.

Although the results are not directly transferable to the human population, the new research provides strong support for the beneficial effects on Vitamin E against the cell damaging effects of free radicals that accelerate the aging process.

300 mice bred to live for an average of 61 weeks were divided into 2 groups at 28 weeks of age. Half of the animals received the human dose equivalent of 1200-2000mg. Although this is much higher than the current recommended 10-15mg per day, similar dosages have been used in human studies with no adverse effects.

The study reported that the mice receiving Vitamin E supplement lived to an average of 85 weeks and no negative side effects were observed. These mice were also better able to perform neuromuscular testes implicating that quality of life as well as longevity were enhanced. The researchers propose that the Vitamin E delayed the ageing process that results from free radical activity. The mice receiving supplementation had lower levels of free radical mediated reactions and oxidative damage in the mitochondria - the energy providing powerhouse of all cells.

Because of the increased use of oxygen during intense exercise the increased production of free radicals is of major importance to the athlete. Normally oxygen should be completely reduced to water but around 2-5% is only partially reduced and becomes a highly reactive free radical.

These free radicals attempt to stabilise themselves by taking an electron from neighbouring molecules and thus begin a chain reaction creating further free radicals and the capacity to cause cellular damage. Due to the heightened use of oxygen in the energy producing pathways, athletes' free radical production is higher and needs to be addresses with an increased range and amount of antioxidants. These help to stabilize the free radicals before they can damage otherwise healthy cells.

Vitamin E and Vitamin C are powerful antioxidants found in abundance within the plant oils and citrus fruits respectively. You can increase your defense against free radical activity with an increased daily intake of antioxidants from foods and or/supplements.

A Navarro, C Gomez, M Sanchez-Pino, H Gonzalez, MJ Bandez, AD Boveris, A Boveris,

Vitamin E at high doses improves survival, neurological performance and brain mitochondrial function in aging male mice. A J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, July 2005