What happened
Researchers analysed 6,025 US adults aged 60 and over from NHANES 1999–2006, with blood tests measuring alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, then tracked deaths for a mean of 12.1 years (3,745 deaths). Compared with the lowest blood-level group, the highest alpha-tocopherol group had 16% lower all-cause mortality (HR 0.84) and 35% lower cancer mortality (HR 0.65).
Gamma-tocopherol behaved differently: higher levels first appeared linked to higher mortality, but that association disappeared after full adjustment for health and lifestyle factors. One exception remained: the highest gamma-tocopherol group had 37% lower Alzheimer's mortality (HR 0.63).
Why it matters
Vitamin E is not one thing — alpha and gamma tocopherol track different causes of death, which itself suggests dietary confounders rather than a single vitamin effect. It is a blood-level study, and the percentages describe differences in estimated risk between groups, not lives saved.
What comes next
Nobody in this study took a supplement: researchers measured what was already in people's blood. Whether taking vitamin E changes anything is a question for a trial, not for this analysis.
Observational, blood levels measured, not a supplement trial — it does not prove that taking vitamin E lengthens life or prevents Alzheimer's; the two forms link to different causes of death, suggesting dietary confounders. Never present as a recommendation to take vitamin E.