Friday June 28, 1:05 pm Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: National Sunflower Association
Sunflower Seeds Are Best Whole-Food Source of Vitamin E
New Research Links Vitamin E in Foods to Lower Risk of Alzheimer's

BISMARCK, N.D., June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- New research shows that Alzheimer disease is less common in people who consume more antioxidant-rich foods, specifically those containing vitamin E. According to the USDA Nutrient Database, sunflower seeds are the best, whole-food source of vitamin E, almost all of which is alpha-tocopherol, the most biologically active form. The new studies were published in this week's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The first study was conducted in the United States on 815 people and examined dietary intake of antioxidants and risk of Alzheimer disease. Researchers found the strongest association between higher dietary intake of vitamin E and lower risk of Alzheimer disease. Unexpectedly, this association was seen only in people without a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's.

The second study also looked at the relationship between antioxidant intake and Alzheimer disease. The researchers analyzed the diets of over 5,000 people in the Netherlands and found an association between people who consumed diets rich in vitamin E and vitamin C from foods and a lower risk of Alzheimer disease. These results were most pronounced in current smokers, although benefits from antioxidant-rich foods were seen for non-smokers and past smokers as well.

In both of these studies, vitamin E from foods, not supplements, provided the beneficial effects. Dutch researchers reasoned that vitamin E from food differs from supplements in that supplements are typically high-dose and taken short-term, whereas food sources of vitamin E usually are consumed over a longer period of time and include a variety of other nutrients that may have additional benefits.

Researchers are finding that oxidative stress may play an important role in the development of many chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's. Antioxidants counteract the effects of oxidative stress by squelching harmful free radicals thereby protecting cell membranes. A one- ounce serving of sunflower seeds contains a whopping 76% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin E. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means that fat is needed to maximize absorption of this important nutrient.

Sunflower seeds provide an ideal package for vitamin E, with mostly healthful, unsaturated fat. They are also an excellent source of the antioxidants copper and selenium, which work in conjunction with vitamin E. Sunflower seeds provide six grams of plant protein and two grams of fiber per serving, and are power-packed with folate, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, manganese, iron and zinc.

Whether you sprinkle sunflower seeds over your salad, munch on trail mix, stir sunflower seeds into your vegetable dishes, or spoon them over your yogurt, it only takes a small amount to see a big improvement in the overall nutritional quality of your diet.

The National Sunflower Association is a non-profit commodity organization of sunflower growers and sunflower industry members dedicated to research, education and promotion. For recipes and further information, visit http://www.sunflowernsa.com .

SOURCE: National Sunflower Association


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This is great news and quality information. Has anyone come up with advisable LC amounts of these seeds for daily consumption? I am thinking about grinding and adding a few to the daily shake...

I add about a TBSP or two to my salad every day.... YUMMY