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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

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Published on: January 11, 2019
The pro-oxidant activity of high-dose vitamin E supplements in vivo
Philip Pearson1, Sarah A Lewis, John Britton
1Division of Respiratory Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham City Hospital, Hucknall Road, Nottingham, UK.
Background:
A recent meta-analysis has demonstrated that the regular administration of high-dose vitamin E supplements may be associated with increased mortality. The biological mechanism for this effect is uncertain.
Methods:
A ferrous oxidation xylenol assay was used to assess plasma oxidation activity levels in samples from a randomized, placebo-controlled, 6-week trial of daily vitamin E supplementation in adults with asthma (n = 72).
Results And Conclusion:
A 27% increase in plasma oxidation activity levels was observed in patients receiving vitamin E. We demonstrate a pro-oxidant effect of high-dose vitamin E supplementation that may explain the increase in mortality observed in intervention studies using this nutrient.
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