New research indicates natural forms of Vitamin E supplement can have more than double the potency of synthetic forms of the popular antioxidant.
A recent National Research Council of Canada study reaching those findings follows earlier reports that natural Vitamin E can have as much as five times more potency than the synthetic form.
The Canadian study authors say their findings of a 2-to-1 potency ratio over synthetic supplements have both short-term and long-term implications. "The present work showed that the bioavailability of synthetic (Vitamin E) is roughly half that of natural (Vitamin E), at least in the long term," researchers say.
Other research has indicated Vitamin E may also help prevent heart disease, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and many other serious illnesses. The Vitamin commonly is found is commonly found in most vegetables, fruits, vegetable oils, margarine, wheat germ and nuts.
