A recent study from the Netherlands examined the vitamin E intake of mothers whose newborns were diagnosed with heart abnormalities, compared to that of mothers whose babies had no heart defects.

Heart defects were 5-fold to 9-fold higher in the children of mothers who had higher dietary intakes or who took vitamin E supplements in the period before and during the pregnancy.

I don't believe these findings should make women worry about the amount of vitamin E they are getting from the foods they eat before and during pregnancy. They should, however, be wary of taking vitamin E supplements during these times.

In contrast, supplements of the B vitamin folate are strongly recommended for women who are pregnant or likely to become pregnant. Folate deficiencies in the early stages of pregnancy greatly raise the risk of serious neural-tube defects—which damage the structure that will become the spinal cord and brain in the fetus—and studies have clearly shown that folate supplements significantly lower that risk.

The danger is that women who are already taking folate supplements might be tempted to take other vitamins, including vitamin E, as do countless others around the world, in the mistaken belief that vitamin E is protective against coronary heart disease. (Ironically, research trials have shown that vitamin E supplements not only do not prevent coronary disease but instead may even increase the likelihood of premature death.)

The results of this Netherlands study need to be confirmed in the future. Nonetheless, caution is in order for women who are considering vitamin E supplements (especially those who are pregnant or likely to become pregnant), a vitamin that may have no proven benefits and may be harmful.