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Article: Vitamin E Found to Aid Immune System in Elderly
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- May 7, 1997
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Moderate supplements of vitamin E, already believed to protect
older people from heart disease and dementia, also boost the immune
system in people over 65, a new study found.
The research suggests that older people ought to take about 20
times more vitamin E a day than the current recommended daily
allowance of 8 to 10 milligrams, authors said.
"We looked at three different levels of vitamin E -- 60, 200
and 800 milligrams -- and the 200 milligrams seemed to be optimal,"
said immunologist Simin N. Meydani of the USDA Human Nutrition
Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston.
The researchers compared supplements with a placebo among 88
healthy people age 65 and older. ...