Vitamin supplements containing even modest amounts of vitamin E are protective against ischemic stroke, researchers reported April 20 at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Toronto. Ischemic stroke is caused by a clot or arterial disease blocking blood flow to the brain. This study showed that vitamin E supplements can reduce stroke risk by 53%.

The mean total vitamin E intake of 27 IU per day was significantly lower in subjects who had sustained an ischemic stroke than in people who had not had a stroke, whose mean total daily intake was 58 IU a day. Controls who had not had a stroke were also twice as likely to take a vitamin supplement compared to stroke patients.

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

It is noteworthy that the reduction of stroke was achieved with relatively small amounts of vitamin E. This is especially interesting in that it suggests that most of the people were getting the vitamin E from a multiple vitamin which generally has much lower concentrations of vitamin E and is usually an inferior synthetic derivative.

Vitamin E seems to be such an excellent nutrient that even synthetic alternatives provide benefit. This is clearly not true for all nutrients. Beta-carotene is a great example of a supplement that is actually toxic if a synthetic version is used. I never realized that vitamin E could prevent ischemic strokes.

Strokes are the third leading cause of death (right ahead of drugs that doctors prescribe). It is also the number one cause of disability in this country. Strokes are something that are best avoided, so it surely seems prudent for this and the cardiovascular benefits for most to consume vitamin E. I would recommend a natural, not synthetic version and one that had mixed tocopherols.

If you do supplement with vitamin E, Living Fuel Omega & E comes with my highest recommendation. These are pure, very high-quality fish oil capsultes that contain both the omega-3 that is so severely lacking in most people's diets AND the full-spectrum vitamin E that is the form of vitamin E you should be taking. Read about Living Fuel Omega 3 & E now.