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Update: Vitamins & Artery Damage
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By Phyllis McIntosh
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Diabetes Focus First Quarter, 2007
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If you’re taking antioxidant or vitamin B supplements to protect your heart, you can save your money. A new study confirms that these supplements do nothing to thwart the development of cardiovascular disease.
Earlier studies have found no evidence that taking antioxidants or B vitamins prevents heart attacks, strokes or death from cardiovascular disease, and some have suggested that vitamin E and beta carotene supplements might even be harmful.
In the latest analysis, researchers from Johns Hopkins University reviewed results of 16 clinical trials to determine if supplements might at least hinder the progress of atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in the arteries, which can eventually lead to heart disease. They looked at studies that investigated the effects of the B vitamins (folic acid, B6 or B12) and the antioxidants (vitamins C and E, beta carotene and selenium) on the progression of atherosclerosis as measured by ultrasound or angiography.
Their analysis “showed no evidence of a protective effect of antioxidant or B vitamin supplements on the progression of atherosclerosis,” according to the researchers. In addition, the researchers concluded, “Although future research may identify a role for supplements in chronic disease prevention, at present antioxidants or B vitamins should not be used for cardiovascular disease prevention.”
What this means for you: Forget the large doses of vitamins in supplements and concentrate on a healthy lifestyle that includes getting your nutrients from a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
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