Ask An Expert: Diabetes and Vitamin E

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Ask An Expert: Diabetes and Vitamin E

Question:

Is vitamin E good for diabetics?

Answer:

A daily multiple vitamin to round out your diet may be helpful for people who have diabetes. Taken once a day, multivitamins appear to reduce how frequently a person with diabetes gets simple upper respiratory infections. However, there is no good evidence that large doses of any particular vitamin can do you good. Large doses of vitamin E are not recommended.

Vitamin E was once a trendy vitamin to use in large doses, because experts were hopeful that it might reduce cancer and heart attack risk. Unfortunately, careful scientific studies of vitamin E have shown that neither of these suspected benefits is real. (Some people still hold out hope that vitamin E will decrease the risk of lung cancer and prostate cancer in smokers. The evidence supporting this hope is controversial.)

There is very weak data suggesting that vitamin E might help slow the progress of Alzheimer's dementia, once it starts. This effect is very small, and some experts are not certain it is a real effect.

Experts do not recommend taking vitamin E as a special, distinct supplement if you have diabetes. However, taking a multiple vitamin each day is inexpensive and safe.

Mary Pickett, M.D., is a lecturer for Harvard Medical School and an assistant professor of medicine at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR. At OHSU, she practices general internal medicine and teaches medical residents and students.

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Last updated:	January 24, 2007