DSM Joins With Renowned Scientist to Highlight Benefits of Vitamin E on Fatty Liver Disease

23 May 2014 --- DSM is engaging with leading members of the scientific community, as part of ongoing efforts to further its understanding of the ways in which vitamin E can support human health. These cover a variety of areas of research, including the role of vitamin E supplementation in limiting the negative health implications of fatty liver disease, the use of vitamin E in model systems to prevent the sequelae of stroke and the actions of vitamin E in facilitating membrane repair.

The scientific experts include Dr. Arun Sanyal, Virginia Commonwealth University, who has published studies on the efficacy of vitamin E to prevent the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The results of several human studies have demonstrated the benefit of vitamin E compared to placebo. Vitamin E was found to be effective in reducing the disease activity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, was safe in the applied dose and did not lead to side effects such as weight gain.

“This is a significant development, as obesity-related conditions such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease become key public health concerns on a global scale,” comments Dr. Arun Sanyal. “The results are clear evidence of the benefits that vitamin E supplementation can provide when there are no approved pharmacological treatments available. It is now very important that scientific experts work together to communicate the benefit to the medical community, health professionals and regulatory authorities on the role that vitamin E can play in the body. In particular, we need to address the potential concerns related to the long term safety of vitamin E, dose responses for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and whether the data from previous trials can be generalized.”

“Vitamin E is vital to supporting human health, yet it is estimated that more than 90 per cent of the population in the United States does not meet the dietary intake recommendations for vitamin E,” adds Prof. Manfred Eggersdorfer, Senior Vice President, Nutrition Science & Advocacy at DSM and Professor for Healthy Ageing at University Groningen. “While the micronutrient is not currently high on the agenda of scientists and funding organizations, there is an urgent requirement for additional research to understand the benefits of vitamin E span beyond its well-known function as a fat soluble antioxidant. DSM is working to advance scientific understanding and we regularly attend events that provide an important forum for sharing exciting new discoveries.”

Prof. Manfred Eggersdorfer and Dr. Maret Traber, Principal Investigator and Professor, Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University and Oxygen Club of California (OCC) President chaired a session on vitamin E at the OCC 2014 World Congress at the University of California, Davis. Other scientists that presented at the meeting included Chandan Sen, PhD, Ohio State University (vitamin E in model systems to prevent the sequelae of stroke); Joan Cook-Mills, PhD, Northwestern University and Qing Jiang, PhD, Purdue University (anti-inflammatory actions of vitamin E forms and their metabolites); Valerian E. Kagan, PhD, University of Pittsburgh (vitamin E and the regulation of enzymatic peroxidation); Jeffrey Atkinson, PhD, Brock University (behaviour of alpha-tocopherol in membranes); and Paul L McNeil, Georgia Regents University (vitamin E and membrane repair).

As the world’s leading supplier of vitamin E, DSM offers a comprehensive portfolio of oil and dry forms that are suitable for a wide range of applications. For more information and to access the latest research on vitamin E, visit www.dsm.com/vitamin-e

Vitamins play an essential role for health, wellness and disease prevention throughout the lifecycle. They are key to solving our global nutritional challenges. DSM, a global leader in health and nutrition science, is leading an initiative - Vitamins in Motion - to highlight the important role of vitamins. The campaign advocates for increased access, through innovative solutions, to the essential vitamins all people need to be healthy and well-nourished.