A study was recently published in the Journal of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology about the benefits of taking Vitamin E for a subgroup of diabetics with a special HP(haptoglobin) 2-2 Gene. Diabetics with this genetic marker are 2-3 times more likely to have a heart attack, presumably due to the gene’s inferior ability as an anti-oxidant.

Medical News Today is reporting a 50% decrease in heart attacks for people that have the HP 2-2 gene who supplement with Vitamin E. The actual research in the journal is here- Vitamin E Supplementation Reduces Cardiovascular Events in a Subgroup of Middle-Aged Individuals With Both Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and the Haptoglobin 2-2 Genotype. A Prospective Double-Blinded Clinical Trial.

About %40 of Type 2 Diabetics have the HP 2-2 gene and there is about a %50 reduction in heart attacks with that marker and with 400 IUs of Vitamin E a day. I would like to know specifically what kind of Vitamin E they used for the study, as there are several forms available on the market today. The Vitamin E family has several members- the Life Extension Foundation has a great article on Vitamin E in their report- Whats Wrong with Vitamin E. Remember that most supplements contain a narrow portion of the Vitamin E family which is not always accounted for in some studies.