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Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors
Antioxidant Supplements Fail to Protect High Risk
Women from Cardiovascular Deaths
Use of vitamins C, E and beta carotene for
cardiovascular protection not warranted
 Aug. 13, 2007 – Those eating lots of fruits and
vegetables, which are rich with antioxidants, are known to lower their
risk of cardiovascular disease, but the results from a new study
indicates these antioxidants to be effective may have to come from the
plant foods, rather than from supplements like Vitamins C and E and beta
carotene, all high in antioxidants.
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These supplements, either individually or in
combination, do not appear to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events
or death among women at high risk for heart disease, says the new report
in the August 13 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the
JAMA/Archives journals.
Oxidative damage - harm to cells caused by exposure
to oxygen - may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease,
according to background information in the article. In addition,
compounds known as free radicals may damage artery linings, encourage
blood clots and alter the function of blood vessels.
“Antioxidants scavenge free radicals and limit the
damage they can cause,” the authors write.
“Diets high in fruit and vegetable intake, and thus
rich in such antioxidants, have been associated with reduced rates of
coronary heart disease and stroke."
Vitamins C and E and beta carotene, the researchers
assumed, had the potential to provide the apparent protective effect of
a plant-based diet on cardiovascular disease.
Nancy R. Cook, Sc.D., of Brigham & Women’s Hospital
and Harvard Medical School, Boston, and colleagues tested the effects of
these compounds in the Women’s Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study, which
followed 8,171 women 40 years or older (average age 60.6) beginning in
1995 to 1996.
The women, who either had a history of
cardiovascular disease or three or more risk factors, were randomly
assigned to take
● 500 milligrams of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or placebo every day;
● 600 international units of vitamin E or placebo every other day; and
● 50 milligrams of beta carotene or placebo every other day.
Participants were followed up for the occurrence of
heart events (including stroke, heart attack and bypass surgery) or
death through 2005.
During the average study period of 9.4 years, 1,450
women had one or more cardiovascular events, including 274 heart
attacks, 298 strokes, 889 coronary revascularization procedures (bypass
surgery or angioplasty) and 395 cardiovascular deaths (out of a total
995 deaths).
“There was no overall effect of ascorbic acid,
vitamin E or beta carotene on the primary combined end point or on the
individual secondary outcomes of myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary
revascularization or cardiovascular disease death,” the authors write.
“There were no significant interactions between
agents for the primary end point, but those randomized to both active
ascorbic acid and vitamin E experienced fewer strokes.”
No additional adverse effects were observed for
those taking active pills vs. placebo, with the exception of a small
increase in reports of upset stomach among those taking active beta
carotene.
“Overall, we found no benefit on the primary
combined end point for any of the antioxidant agents tested, alone or in
combination,” the authors conclude.
“We also found no evidence for harm. While
additional research into combinations of agents, particularly for
stroke, may be of interest, widespread use of these individual agents
for cardiovascular protection does not appear warranted.”
Editor's Note:
This study was supported by an
investigator-initiated grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute. Vitamin E and its placebo were supplied by Cognis Corporation
(LaGrange, Ill.). All other agents and their placebos were supplied by
BASF Corporation (Mount Olive, N.J.). Pill packaging was provided by
Cognis and BASF.
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