My Healthy Heart Blogs
Some Antioxidants Do Not Prevent Heart Disease
10/15/07
Nutrition & Exercise
Although there has been significant attention given to antioxidants as a prevention of cardiovascular events, a recent study has shown no association between them and heart health.
Although there has been significant attention given to antioxidants as a prevention of cardiovascular events, a recent study has shown no association between them and heart health.
The Women's Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study analyzed the effects of beta carotene, and vitamins C and E on the heart health of more than 8,000 women 40 years old or older with a history of heart disease or at least three risk factors. The researchers analyzed the effects of those three antioxidants on heart attack, stroke, coronary revascularization, or death from cardiovascular disease. The average follow-up was just more than nine years.
There was no effect on heart attack stroke, coronary revascularization or death associated with vitamin C or beta carotene. However a marginally significant reduction in those outcomes was found in women with a history of heart disease who took vitamin E. Still, the researchers concluded that none of the antioxidants tested for their ability to prevent heart disease held up.
