Vitamin E can reduce the risk of heart attacks, and therefore related deaths, for diabetics who carry a particular version of a gene.
After a year and a half of treatment, people with the haptoglobin (Hp) 2-2 gene who took 400 International Units (IU) of vitamin E daily had more than 50 percent fewer heart attacks, strokes, and related deaths.
Forty percent of individuals with diabetes carry the Hp 2-2 gene.
Among the nearly 1,500 Hp 2-2 individuals taking part in the study, 7 people with a high vitamin E intake had a heart attack, compared to 17 who did not take the vitamin. There were no side effects observed in patients who took vitamin E.
Diabetic patients with Hp 2-2 are two to three times more likely than other diabetics to suffer a heart attack.