Moderation is often the key to wellness and this may also be true of our vitamin intake. When we find out a vitamin or mineral is good for our wellbeing then it’s tempting to stock up on the nutrient to protect our health. Vitamin E is one of those substances that is termed an anti-oxidant, but is it possible to have too much?
What does it do
As well as Vitamin E, there are several vitamins, minerals and supplements that are usually referred to as anti-oxidants. These include Vitamin C, A and substances called phytochemicals that are derived from plants. All these substance can protect our cells when they are ‘attacked’ by free radicals. These molecules roam through our cells making them unstable by upsetting their chemical balance, a process which can spread. Although these changes sound very small, they have been linked with serious wellness problems, such as cancer and immune system issues. Anti-oxidants make our cells stronger and more able to cope with the action of free radicals. So, we’d be forgiven for thinking that if we eat as many vitamins, minerals and supplements containing Vitamin E as we can, we’d boost our defences even more, except not all health experts agree on this.
Is diet enough
Some experts believe we get enough Vitamin E in our diets and don’t need to supplement our food. This is because there do not appear to be many cases of Vitamin E deficiency in the western world. In fact, some health correspondents go as far as saying too much could hurt our health. In a study of heart disease patients, the nutrient was associated with a 13 per cent increase in the health condition, while other studies have linked it with osteoporosis and increased risk of prostate cancer. Although the nutrient has an anti-oxidant effect on our cells, we can always approach our GPs if we have reservations about supplementing our diet with the vitamin.
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