Found this article interesting - Iams nutrition symposium reveals diet connection to major illnesses.

Sharron, I am particulaly interested in the use of Vitamine E in conection with reduced immunity. I have an old boy who has all sorts of problems and it seems that no sooner have we got one thing sorted and another one rears it's head, encouraged by the medication we have had to give to cure the first problem.

Should I buy and give him Vitamine E if so, how much, or can I supply it in his diet by adding 'E' rich food, but I would still not know how much.

Hope you can help, things get very worring at times, you start to wonder if it would be better to let him go, but when he is feeling OK he is still full of the enjoyment of life and I would like to make what he has left as good as it can be.
Ja:)kie

Hi Jackie, I don't know but I'm also very interested. I have golden oldies too and will probably give Vit E in some form to Cal, Megan & Storm when I've got more info. I have the full Meydani paper & the papers in the references on order and am going to do a literature search for associated material & on Vit E . If you like I can e-mail you copies of the original sources or post/e-mail a digest?

Really interested in this, would be gratefull for more info if you think I will understand it. Have heard and read that one can over do Vitamines and lets face it the poor old sod does not need me adding to his problems. Please keep me informed and I would be pleased to see anything you think I would be able to understand and put to use.
Thanks. Ja:)kie

Hi Jackie, heres a link on vits, not much on vit.e but gives you a run down on excess of vits.
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/wolfepack/herbs.html
I give my lot vit.e & heres what I`ve read about it *Aids important bodily functions such as fighting disease, helps minimize effects of pollution and as an antioxidant,helps preserve & protect the vit.A & fatty acids in other supplements & foods.
Christine, Spain.

This is one of my favourite sites when I am looking up anything on various minerals and vitamins Health & Nutrition

Christine

Good site - thanks Christine

Hi Jackie, been looking this up and I wouldn't say that the case for Vit E is proven but its fairly safe as you have to give massive amounts to get side effects. The recommended level is ~ 1.1 iu/lb/day and you need to give 4000 - 6000iu to produce side-effects. Recommended Vit C intake is <1.0 iu/lb/day and it is difficult if not impossible to over dose on Vit C. Dogs make their own Vit C but at lover levels than most mammals. It seems that health benefits - if there are any - probably happen at quite low levels of supplementation, around receive 3.0 iu/lb/day of vitamin E, and 2.0 iu/lb/day of vitamin C to derive health benefits. So I don't think supplementing with Vit E and C at reasonable levels can do much if any harm but if you feed any of the better complete diets they will already be supplemented.