Vitamin E: cancer preventer or promoter?

By 23. May 2012Blog, Health, Nutrition

Vitamin E can help prevent cancer, but are you taking the right one? That’s the worrying message published by researchers from the State University of New Jersey and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.

Αlpha-Tocopherol (E307), the most biologically active type of vitamin E and the one commonly used in supplements did not appear to show any cancer preventive effects and in one trial even seemed to increase the incidence of cancer. Gamma- and delta-tocopherols (E308 and E309) on the other hand, did show a preventive effect in animal studies. Their suggestion, stick to food or supplements high in these two types.

The publication is available from the Cancer Prevention Research website.