Analysis Includes 19 Studies Of 136,000 Patients 
The author of a new analysis said "people take vitamin E because they think it's going to make them live longer." But, she said, her research "doesn't support that at all."
The research combines 19 previous studies conducted between 1993 and 2004 and involving a total of about 136,000 patients who take vitamin E. Those taking an amount equivalent to most supplements were 10 percent more likely to die than those taking less.
"Increasing doses of vitamin E were linked to an increase in death," said Dr. Edgar Miller, one of the study's researchers.
A small amount of vitamin E -- the amount contained in most multivitamins -- may be slightly beneficial. But scientists said more research needs to be conducted to confirm that.
The study, conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., was reported Wednesday at an American Heart Association conference in New Orleans. It's also published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Current U.S. dietary guidelines do not recommend vitamin E supplementation, but the guidelines do set an upper intake limit of up to 1,500 international units, or IU, per day.
"Policy-makers and government regulators should consider lowering this level, perhaps, to an upper limit of 400 IU per day," said Dr. Eliseo Guallar, senior author of the study and assistant professor of epidemiology at the Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant important in the formation of red blood cells. It's found in foods including wheat germ, corn, nuts, seeds, olives, spinach, asparagus and other green leafy vegetables, vegetable oils, and products made from vegetable oils, such as margarine. On average, dietary intake of vitamin E is 10 IU per day. Multivitamin pills usually contain 30 IU to 60 IU of vitamin E.
The author of a new analysis said "people take vitamin E because they think it's going to make them live longer." But, she said, her research "doesn't support that at all."
The research combines 19 previous studies conducted between 1993 and 2004 and involving a total of about 136,000 patients who take vitamin E. Those taking an amount equivalent to most supplements were 10 percent more likely to die than those taking less.
"Increasing doses of vitamin E were linked to an increase in death," said Dr. Edgar Miller, one of the study's researchers.
A small amount of vitamin E -- the amount contained in most multivitamins -- may be slightly beneficial. But scientists said more research needs to be conducted to confirm that.
The study, conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., was reported Wednesday at an American Heart Association conference in New Orleans. It's also published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Current U.S. dietary guidelines do not recommend vitamin E supplementation, but the guidelines do set an upper intake limit of up to 1,500 international units, or IU, per day.
"Policy-makers and government regulators should consider lowering this level, perhaps, to an upper limit of 400 IU per day," said Dr. Eliseo Guallar, senior author of the study and assistant professor of epidemiology at the Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant important in the formation of red blood cells. It's found in foods including wheat germ, corn, nuts, seeds, olives, spinach, asparagus and other green leafy vegetables, vegetable oils, and products made from vegetable oils, such as margarine. On average, dietary intake of vitamin E is 10 IU per day. Multivitamin pills usually contain 30 IU to 60 IU of vitamin E.
