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The Pro-Oxidant Activity of High-Dose Vitamin E Supplements in Vivo

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Abstract

Background

A recent meta-analysis has demonstrated that the regular administration of high-dose vitamin E supplements may be associated with increased mortality. The biological mechanism for this effect is uncertain.

Methods

A ferrous oxidation xylenol assay was used to assess plasma oxidation activity levels in samples from a randomized, placebo-controlled, 6-week trial of daily vitamin E supplementation in adults with asthma (n = 72).

Results and conclusion

27% increase in plasma oxidation activity levels was observed in patients receiving vitamin E. We demonstrate a pro-oxidant effect of high-dose vitamin E supplementation that may explain the increase in mortality observed in intervention studies using this nutrient.

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Acknowledgments

The authors contributed equally to this work. This article was funded by Asthma UK. The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to the publication of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Respiratory Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham City Hospital, Nottingham, UK

    Philip Pearson & Sarah A. Lewis

  2. Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham City Hospital, Clinical Science Building, Hucknall Rd, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK

    John Britton &  Andrew Fogarty

  3. Queen’s University Belfast, Welcome Research Laboratories, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK

    Ian S. Young

Authors
  1. Philip Pearson
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  2. Sarah A. Lewis
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  3. John Britton
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  4. Ian S. Young
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  5. Andrew Fogarty
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew Fogarty.

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Pearson, P., Lewis, S.A., Britton, J. et al. The Pro-Oxidant Activity of High-Dose Vitamin E Supplements in Vivo . BioDrugs 20, 271–273 (2006). https://doi.org/10.2165/00063030-200620050-00002

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00063030-200620050-00002

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