Research published in the British Journal of Nutrition (June 1, 2009) evaluated health status and quality of life in 23 elderly men and 46 elderly women. Better overall health and well-being were associated with lower levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP), both of which are markers of inflammation.
Higher levels of these inflammatory markers were more commonly found in individuals with low vitamin E status. In contrast, participants with higher levels of vitamin E and tryptophan tended to report better physical and mental health. The authors concluded:
“The present findings document a clear association between vitamin E levels and inflammatory pathways in the elderly and suggest that their interaction may influence quality of life.”
Additional research published in Experimental Physiology (2008 Dec;93(12):1263–1272) examined the effects of vitamin E supplementation on inflammation in mice. The animals were divided into two groups and given either vitamin E or a placebo for three days. They were then injected with a bacterial toxin (Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide) designed to provoke an inflammatory response.
Markers of inflammation, including cytokines, were significantly lower in the vitamin E–supplemented group compared to the control group. These findings suggest that vitamin E supplementation may help moderate inflammatory responses.
