Metabolic Syndrome? You Probably Need More Vitamin E

People who have metabolic syndrome might have problems absorbing enough vitamin E, new research reports.

Vitamin E, which is naturally occurring in foods like sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach and safflower oil, has been shown in previous research to help reduce risk of stroke, heart attack and cardiovascular problems.

Metabolic syndrome, however, increases risk for all of these conditions, and can lead to full-blown diabetes if left untreated.

The study found that people with metabolic syndrome absorb less vitamin E than healthy people.

Cow's milk: an easy fix

People in the study drank cow's milk, which promotes the absorption of vitamin E found in foods. Those who drank the milk along with vitamin-E containing foods absorbed about 26 to 29 percent of the vitamin, depending on their health status.

An estimated 35 percent of Americans have metabolic syndrome, which includes clusters of symptoms like excess belly fat, high blood pressure, or high blood sugar.

“This work tells us that at least one-third of Americans have higher vitamin E requirements than healthy people,” said study author Richard Bruno, professor of human nutrition at The Ohio State University, “Dietary requirements of nutrients are generally defined only in the context of what a healthy person needs, but considering that two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, a healthy person might not be representative of our society.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Daily Recommended Allowance (RDA) for vitamin E is 15 mg for adults over 14. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor about the dosage that is best for you.

Source: Ohio State University