Vitamin E may help prevent the common cold Do you take a daily vitamin C to reduce your risk of the common cold? If so, you might want to add one more key vitamin to your prevention list: E. Researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University gave more than 600 subjects, aged 65 or older, a daily supplement of 200 IU of vitamin E or a placebo for a trial period of one year. The results: Vitamin E supplements had no effect on lower respiratory tract infections, but may have had a preventive effect on upper respiratory infections. Subjects who took E supplements had a 20 percent reduced risk of coming down with a common cold. In previous e-Alerts, HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., has recommended a vitamin E daily dose of 400 IU - mixed tocopherols. Dr. Spreen also suggests an additional supplement of 200 mcg of selenium per day. Dr. Spreen: "Both selenium and vitamin E are intimately associated with stimulation of the part of the immune system dealing with production of immunoglobulins." The immune system uses immunoglobulins (or antibodies) to identify and neutralize viruses and bacteria. Talk to your doctor before adding a vitamin E supplement to your daily regimen. Good dietary sources of vitamin E include eggs, liver, nuts and seeds, spinach, broccoli, peaches, wheat germ and vegetable oils. Sources:
"Vitamin E and Respiratory Tract Infections in Elderly Nursing Home Residents" Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 292, No. 7, 8/18/04, jama.ama-assn.org | 
