Caution: Vit E and Asthma

[Matman]

The Daily Mail recently (Nov 2017) reported on some science extolling the benefits of Vitamin E where Asthma is concerned. The Article even floated the idea that Vit E might become a Treatment for Asthma.

The Science / Data ‘Source’ (mentioned in the Daily Mail Article I’ve linked to below) stated that the ‘Gamma Tocopherol’ Content of Vitamin E was responsible for the benefit to Asthmatics.

However, another Science Article, only a couple of years older from a different ‘professional’ source (link also below) seems to reach the opposite conclusion, i.e. that ‘Gamma Tocopherols’ in Vitamin E can make your Asthma worse by up to 10% - but that Alpha Tocopherols in Vitamin E could reduce your Asthma.

Bottom line? Seems that some forms of Vitamin E might help your Asthma but others may make it worse.

As to which is the right kind of Vit E (if any) to use, I suggest you read both articles and make up your own mind. (I’ve previously read that there are risks associated with supplementing with Vit E beyond the advised daily requirement of around 80iu, and most Supplements seem to start at 200 to 400 iu, though I did find one at 100iu).

Note, don’t entirely rely on ‘Data Recency’, as often earlier data is proven to be more valid. Instead, consider the quality, source and ‘numbers’ presented by the data.

dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

news.northwestern.edu/stori...

[sagittar]

this is very interesting study....but the 2 link contradict eachother....which is better alpha or the gamma...will have to research further. I have lot of walnuts.....LOL

[Minushabens]

I wouldn't want to debunk the research as time may prove it to be correct, but at this point in time, I would exercise caution. If you want to read the full research paper (for example, as well as asthma you suffer from severe insomnia), here's the link:

jacionline.org/article/S009...

The thing that sticks out the most from a scientific research perspective is that the results were based on "10 healthy volunteers", who were then randomised so that 5 received the treatment and 5 a placebo. I think there are two obvious problems here; namely, that trial numbers seem small, and that the volunteers were given an artificially-induced form of airway inflammation rather than actually being asthmatics.

Reviewing a much more detailed study in 2014 (192 participants), Cochrane (THE place to look for medical research) concluded "We found no indication of benefit in the studies that considered vitamins C and E in relation to asthma. However, at this stage, it is not possible to form any clear conclusions based on these findings, as available evidence is insufficient to allow proper assessment of the use of vitamins C and E as a treatment for patients with asthma. Additional well-designed research is required to answer this question."

The study referenced in the other link (the actual research is here: respiratory-research.biomed... seems to have several thousand participants, covering a wide range of ethnic and gender groups, if I understand it correctly (and don't assume that I do!) it suggests that vitamin E generally brings about reduced FEV-1 (peak flow), whereas vitamin A tends to improve it. That research doesn't seem to have been reviewed on Cochrane though.

So, I think the conclusion at this stage would generally be, try it if you want - it might work, in which case that's good, but it might not.

It sounds like something to keep an eye on, but there's no real evidence yet as to it being a potential wide-ranging treatment and some evidence that vitamin E may actually cause harm.