Vitamin E may reduce risk of venous thromboembolism in women

Vitamin E may protect women from the risk of venous thromboembolism, particularly those with a history of emboli or a genetic susceptibility, according to study findings published online Sept. 10 in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Robert J. Glynn, PhD, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and colleagues conducted a study of 39,876 women who were randomized to receive either 600 IU of natural source vitamin E or placebo on alternate days. Blood samples were provided by 26,779 subjects to determine 2 genetic polymorphisms known to increase susceptibility to venous thromboembolism.

Over the course of a mean 10.2 years follow-up, 482 women had a venous thromboembolism, including 213 in the vitamin E group and 269 in the placebo group. For women with no previous venous thromboembolism, vitamin E supplementation conferred an 18% hazard reduction. Women with a prior venous thromboembolism had a 44% reduction, and those with a genetic susceptibility had a 49% reduction.

Glynn RJ, Ridker PM, Goldhaber SZ, et al. Effects of random allocation to vitamin E supplementation on the occurrence of venous thromboembolism: report from the Women's Health Study. Circulation. 2007;116:1497-1503.