WASHINGTON, July 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Praise for Vitamin E, the "health care miracle," is moving from scientific, medical and health publications to America's mainstream, popular media -- including the latest issue of Reader's Digest.

The August issue of the multi-million circulation magazine summarizes
recent research on Vitamin E and concludes:

"A wealth of research shows the potential benefits of this vitamin."

In an article by Anita Bartholomew, Reader's Digest reported that Vitamin E supplements reduce the risk of heart disease, help prevent atherosclerosis
which can cause strokes, increase immune response, ease arthritis pains,
and delay the progress of Alzheimer's disease, among numerous health
benefits.

The article reported on Vitamin E supplementation, noting that even a
minimum amount of 100 IUs (international units) from dietary sources would
require large amounts of fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds.

"You'd have to eat nearly five pounds of spinach or four cups of peanuts,"
the article said.

Dr. Nancy Snyderman, a California surgeon, was quoted as saying; "I used tobelieve that if you ate a good diet, that was enough. But, frankly, you
don't get enough of the nutrient."

The article continued:

"If even half of the early findings about E are approved in continuing
research, this vitamin can truly be called a health care miracle."

The Reader's Digest listed "the evidence so far on how it (Vitamin E) may
help you:"

* Research at Tufts University in Boston showed, according to nutrition
researcher Jeffrey Blumberg, that Vitamin E can help people "be safer from
infectious disease -- colds, flu, tuberculosis."

* At the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas,
researchers found what they believe are reasons why Vitamin E can reduce
cardiac risk. Vitamin E helps prevent atherosclerosis, hardening of the
arteries, they concluded.

* A National Cancer Institute-supported study found a decreased rate of
cancer in test subjects who received combinations of vitamins, including
Vitamin E, according to scientists at Wayne State University in Detroit.

Vitamin E was also cited as benefiting smokers, slowing Alzheimer's
disease, and helping resist sunburn.