Vitamin E Assists Blood Vessel Health

Vascular endothelial function is defined as the function of cells lining blood vessels, optimal performance of which is key to cardiovascular health. Richard S. Bruno, from the University of Connecticut (Connecticut, USA), and colleagues enrolled 15 healthy men, average age 22 years, to participate in a study in which each subject was randomly assigned to receive either a vitamin E supplement (500 mg of gamma-tocopherol, 60 mg of alpha-tocopherol, 170 mg of delta-tocopherol, and 9 mg of beta-tocopherol), or no supplements, for five days prior to fasting and then receiving 75 mg of glucose. The researchers observed that vitamin E supplementation maintained endothelial function, and also reduce the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) - an established marker of oxidative stress.  The study authors conclude that: "these findings support that short-term supplementation of [mixed tocopherols] maintains [vascular endothelial function ] during postprandial hyperglycemia.”