Is there benefit in taking antioxidant vitamins?
For a number of years, people have been encouraged to consume mega-doses of antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamins E and C and beta-carotene. Images of Linus Pauling scooping tablespoons of vitamin C into his orange juice have endured. Although Dr. Pauling won the Nobel Prize twice, when it comes to antioxidant supplements in the gel capsule or the big white pills, he was wrong.
In both the Heart Outcomes Protection and Evaluation Study and the Heart Protection Study, antioxidant vitamin supplements provided absolutely no protection from the development of CHD, heart attack, stroke, or other bad cardiovascular outcomes. In fact, in another study known as the HDL Atherosclerosis Treatment Study, the addition of antioxidant vitamins to patients receiving statins and niacin dramatically blunts the ability of these drugs to raise HDL and decrease risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes. It is no longer recommended that patients take antioxidant supplements, such as vitamins E and C.
Conclusions
Cardiovascular disease is preventable. Identifying and treating risk factors that predispose people to the development of heart and vascular disease is tantamount to living not only longer but also more productively and free of disability. Risk factors can be improved through both lifestyle modification and medication. If you require medication to treat cholesterol, blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, or diabetes, do not consider this a failure. Be glad that we have the therapeutic means at our disposal to help address these problems. If multiple medications are required, take this in stride and understand that tight control of all risk factors unequivocally affects your risk for heart and vascular disease, the number 1 cause of death and disability in both men and women in industrialized nations throughout the world.
