By IANS
New York : Vitamin E may help prevent physical decline in aged people over 65, a new study in the US has said.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant provided to the body by some foods, including vegetable oils, soya nuts, corn, olive oil, egg yolk and green leafy vegetables. A person’s body can’t manufacture the vitamin.
It is already known that vitamin E protects the body’s tissues from damage caused by harmful particles. It also slows down signs of aging and the degeneration of skin cells.
Researchers at the Yale University School of Medicine who measured levels of vitamins in the blood of 698 volunteers from areas around the Italian city of Florence found that people aged over 65 and with lower levels of vitamin E performed worse on tests of basic physical ability.
The performances of the volunteers on three physical tests – a short walk, balance and standing up from a seated position – were monitored over a three-year period, the online edition of BBC News reported.
While the researchers found an association between vitamin E and the performance, their work suggested no such link with other essential vitamins.
“The odds of declining in physical function were 1.62 times greater in persons with low levels of vitamin E compared to people with higher levels, lead researcher Benedetta Bartali said.
“Our results suggest that an appropriate dietary intake of vitamin E may help to reduce the decline in physical function among older persons,” he said.
“Since only one person in our study used vitamin E supplements, it is unknown whether the use of vitamin E supplements would have the same beneficial effect,” he added.
He, however, said, “I would not recommend vitamin E supplements.”
“My recommendations would be based on a good nutritious diet, with adequate caloric intake and adequate exercise. These will take you far beyond vitamin E supplements in maintaining physical function,” he added.