Graduate Program

Gerontology

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

1999

Thesis Director

Janet Cosbey

Abstract

This study explores the dialectical relationship between American attitudes about Vitamin E and American attitudes toward aging. Through an examination of this dialectic, I will demonstrate that Vitamin E's history has contributed greatly to current American discourses on aging. For many Americans, the vitamin symbolizes youth and health because they perceive that its use can prevent or slow the aging process. During the 1990s, many Americans' early negative perceptions of Vitamin E as a quack substance have changed, partly due to recent research advances and studies that have further elucidated its powerful antioxidant function against harmful free radicals. Meanwhile, many Americans' distaste of aging has motivated them to seek out "youth potions" such as Vitamin E. The vitamin's positive image is enhanced by vigorous marketing, by the media, the vitamin industry, and nutrition promoters, of its "age preventing" abilities. Though the medical community has historically condemned Vitamin E as a quack substance, many in the community are becoming more receptive to the idea of Vitamin E therapy. Vitamin E's current prominence in health issues, which will likely continue despite ongoing controversy over its efficacy and safety, demonstrates its strong influence on American thoughts toward aging. To gain a wide perspective for this analytic history, I investigated the interrelationships among the medical community, the public, the vitamin industry, the nutrition promoters, and the media through primary and secondary sources. The sources used for this study included professional journals, writings of nutrition promoters, popular-press magazine articles, Internet websites, vitamin industry advertisements, legislation, newspapers, article indices, and personal observations.

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