FANSA Report Emphasizes Natural, Safe Intake of Vitamin E

CHICAGO-Vitamin E may not have an official endorsement for supplemental use, but a new report from the Food and Nutrition Science Alliance (FANSA) noted that natural vitamin E is more potent than synthetic and that there are possible health benefits attributed to vitamin E.

While the news is not new, it does come from FANSA, which combines the American Dietetic Association, American Society of Clinical Nutrition, American Society for Nutritional Sciences, and Institute of Food Technologists-groups that have not necessarily been favorable in the past to use of dietary supplements.

FANSA's report comes on the heels of new recommendations from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies that raised the RDI for vitamin E and set a maximum limit on vitamin E consumption. The RDI of 15 mg alpha-tocopherol is equivalent to 22 IU of d-alpha-tocopherol (natural form) or 33 IU of d,l-alpha-tocopherol (synthetic form). The FANSA report noted that natural alpha-tocopherol is twice as potent as synthetic because of better absorption. The maximum upper tolerable level was 1,000 mg of any form of alpha-tocopherol in supplemental form.

The Institute of Medicine estimated that most Americans consume between 8 and 12 mg of vitamin E daily through the diet; richest dietary sources of vitamin E are vegetable oils, nuts and seeds. Therefore, Americans cutting down on fat consumption may not be getting enough vitamin E as they cut out these foods.

Tony DeLio, corporate vice president for Archer Daniels Midland, noted that the increase in RDI for vitamin E and the setting of an upper tolerable limit are good moves for consumers. "It also recognizes that there are different forms of isomers, and that natural source vitamin E is better absorbed," he said.