July 19, 2004

By: Brice Boulet
Website: http://www.1st-in-vitamins.com

International Experts Convene on Vitamin E Benefits and Potency

Renowned experts from around the world -including the University of Leicester - in the fields of medicine, nutrition, chemistry and biology have met to share research findings and to move towards a consensus on the specific biological functions and relative potencies of the various forms of vitamin E in the human body.

The discussions should impact the recommended intake levels for the nutritional supplement, which has been widely celebrated for its antioxidant properties and potential to prevent cancer and cardio-vascular disease.

The round table meeting, initiated by the Oxygen Club of California in cooperation with BASF Aktiengesellschaft, was chaired by Lester Packer, Ph.D., University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, and Salomon Stavchansky, Ph.D., University of Texas College of Pharmacy and organized by Frank Kelly, Ph.D., King's College, and Moshen Meydani, D.V.M., Ph.D., Tufts University.

The session came one day in advance of the prestigious vitamin E and Health Conference in Boston, MA, which was sponsored by the New York Academy of Sciences.

Recent research is revolutionizing our understanding of the numerous forms of vitamin E and expanding the recognized benefits of vitamin E intake for human health and disease prevention, Dr. Packer said. This is not the time to take a narrow view of vitamin E potency and efficacy, either as researchers or on nutrition labels.

The round table discussion addressed the following topics:

-Valid biomarkers for vitamin E function in humans

-Relevance of plasma levels in establishing biopotency for different forms of vitamin E

-Appropriate biopotency ratio of natural vs. synthetic forms of vitamin E

-Intake values for nutritional and supplemental ingestion of vitamin E

-Priority areas for future research

A consensus statement of recommendations from the round table will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. In addition, the conclusions will be shared with the U.S. Institute of Medicine's Food & Nutrition Board, US Pharmacopeia, international regulatory bodies and the news media.

The panel identified several new and exciting directions for future research, Dr. Packer noted. Our shared vision embraces both fundamental research and investigations into the biomedical implications of vitamin E as an agent to maintain good health and protect against disease.

About The Author:

Brice Boulet is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-vitamins.com.  Recommending the best vitamins, minerals, herbs and weight loss products for optimum health.