Easy does it with vitamin E

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Swallowing an amber-colored vitamin E capsule has long been a daily ritual for millions of American women. It may be time to stop.

Today vitamin E is one of the most widely used supplements, taken regularly by nearly a quarter of adults ages 55 and over. Its popularity derives from studies over the years suggesting that vitamin E’s antioxidant properties could help stave off common age-related ills, such as heart disease, cancer, and cataracts. Many health care professionals were personally on board, taking the supplement as well as recommending it. Although there was no proof of its effectiveness, the consensus was, “It might help, and it couldn’t hurt.”

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