Brad Stanfield on Vitamin E
17 episodes · 27 references · 2022–2026
- Stanfield strongly recommends against vitamin E supplementation, citing Cochrane reviews showing increased mortality rates and no net benefit for cardiovascular disease or cancer prevention. - He acknowledges vitamin E's cellular protective role and observational data showing 34% lower heart disease in women with high dietary intake, but considers supplementation harmful. - No evidence of personal consumption or specific dosing guidance; his position is to obtain vitamin E from diet only.
Benefits
- Women with the highest dietary vitamin E intake had 34% lower rates of heart disease compared to those with the lowest intake. - Vitamin E protects cells, particularly outer membranes, from oxidative damage. - These benefits apply to dietary intake rather than supplementation, which Stanfield distinguishes as a separate issue.
Best Practices
- Clinical trials used daily vitamin E supplements at 400 or 800 international units compared to placebo. - Stanfield references these doses as the levels tested in research, not as recommendations. - He does not endorse any supplemental dose, viewing dietary sources as sufficient.
Cautions
- Cochrane reviews indicate vitamin E supplements may increase all-cause mortality and heart-related deaths, with Stanfield calling supplementation "a bad idea." - High-dose vitamin E has been linked to increased prostate cancer risk and may interfere with exercise benefits. - Stanfield personally avoids vitamin E supplements, stating "we get plenty of that from our diet," and flags concerns that potent antioxidant supplements broadly may raise death rates.
“Compared to women with the lowest vitamin E intake, those with the highest had 34% lower rates of heart disease.”
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“Vitamin E protects our cells, particularly the outer membranes, from oxidative damage.”
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“They also recommend against using vitamin E supplements due to evidence that both beta carotene and vitamin E may increase mortality.”
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“Supplementing with it is a bad idea. There's no net benefit of supplementation with vitamin E for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer.”
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“Things are even worse for vitamin E supplements, where we can see an increase in death rates.”
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“Many influencers and supplement companies will promote the use of vitamin E for its anti-cancer and cardiovascular protection. That's a bad idea.”
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