ASSESSMENT OF THE SAFETY OF SUPPLEMENTATION WITH DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OFVITAMIN-E IN HEALTHY OLDER ADULTS

We showed previously that supplementation for 30 d with 800 IU (727 mg ) vitamin E/d did not adversely affect healthy elderly persons. We hav e now assessed the effects of 4 mo of supplementation with 60, 200, or 800 IU (55, 182, or 727 mg) all-rac-alpha-tocopherol/d on general hea lth, nutrient status, liver enzyme function, thyroid hormone concentra tions, creatinine concentrations, serum autoantibodies, killing of Can dida albicans by neutrophils, and bleeding time in 88 healthy subjects aged >65 y participating in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. No side effects were reported by the subjects. Vitamin E supplementat ion had no effect on body weight, plasma total proteins, albumin, gluc ose, plasma lipids or the lipoprotein profile, total bilirubin, alkali ne phosphatase, serum aspartate aminotransferase, serum alanine aminot ransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, serum urea nitrogen, total red bloo d cells, white blood cells or white blood cell differential counts, pl atelet number, bleeding time, hemoglobin, hematocrit, thyroid hormones , or urinary or serum creatinine concentrations. Values from all suppl emented groups were within normal ranges for older adults and were not significantly different from values in the placebo group. Vitamin E s upplementation had no significant effects on plasma concentrations of other antioxidant vitamins and minerals, glutathione peroxidase, super oxide dismutase, or total homocysteine. There was no significant effec t of vitamin E on serum nonspecific Immunoglobulin concentrations or a nti-DNA and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. The cytotoxic ability of ne utrophils against Candida albicans was not compromised. Thus, 4 mo of supplementation with 60-800 IU vitamin E/d had no adverse effects. The se results are relevant for determining risk-to-benefit ratios for vit amin E supplementation.