It has become somewhat of a trend these days that people automatically assume that by consuming vitamin-fortified foods and dietary health supplements they are living a healthier life. However, has anyone ever stopped to think what vitamins are right for you and just how much quantity you should be consuming? In a recent development, a research group from the Tel Aviv University has done an extensive study on the usage of Vitamin E and the link to heart disease. The study warns that the unchecked usage of high-dose Vitamin E supplementation has a serious impact on many diseases, especially heart disease.

The new study also shows that while some people may be harmed by the consumption of excessive Vitamin E, others might very well benefit from the same.

The primary finding from the study was that the average quality-adjusted life years (QALY) of Vitamin E-supplemented individuals was 0.30 less than that of untreated people. This, of course, does not mean that everybody consuming Vitamin E shortens their life by almost four months. But on average, the quality-adjusted longevity is lower for vitamin-treated people.

“We’ve now concluded that going to the grocery or to a health food store to buy Vitamin E supplements, for the most part, won’t do you good. In some cases it can do harm,” says Dr. Pinchuk. “A doctor wouldn’t prescribe anti-hypertension drugs to the whole population, only to those with low blood pressure. It seems this is true for antioxidants, too. When you give them to everybody, you may be doing more harm than good. Some people may benefit from it, but more may be harmed.”

The researchers are now building sets of criteria that detail under what conditions Vitamin E supplements should be taken. They are also investigating the chemical mechanisms of antioxidants in general to better understand how they work.