News Release

AHA Says Scientific Evidence Does Not Yet Support Recommending Vitamin E Or Other Antioxidant Supplements

Peer-Reviewed Publication

American Heart Association

DALLAS, Feb. 1 -- Results of several studies now show that fruits, vegetables and whole grains that contain antioxidants may lower an individual's risk for heart disease, but it is still unclear whether antioxidant supplements, taken as vitamin pills, have a similar benefit.

As a result, the American Heart Association, in a new scientific advisory published in today's Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, says that current evidence is not strong enough to recommend antioxidant vitamin pills for the general public.

"The American Heart Association continues to recommend that people increase their consumption of antioxidant-rich foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains," says the statement's author, Diane Tribble, Ph.D., a member of the American Heart Association's volunteer nutrition committee and staff scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, in Berkeley, Calif.

"Although some studies have shown that foods rich in antioxidants are associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, that doesn't necessarily mean that high levels of antioxidants achieved by consuming vitamin pills will provide similar benefits -- or are even safe," says Tribble.

Discussion has recently focused on how antioxidant vitamins may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Antioxidants -- such as vitamins E, C and beta-carotene, a form of vitamin A -- have potential health-promoting properties because they counteract oxidants, which many researchers believe play an important role in causing atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the disease process that can lead to heart disease and stroke. Though the data are far from complete, a large component of the population is taking antioxidant vitamin pills, according to Tribble.

Foods high in vitamins C, E, and/or beta-carotene have also been shown to be lower in saturated fat and cholesterol and higher in fiber, characteristics that according to Tribble, may contribute to the reduced risk for heart disease and stroke found in some studies.

"Foods high in vitamins C, E and/or beta-carotene are also rich in other potentially important nutrients such as minerals, flavonoids and other carotenoids. The benefits of these nutrients are even less well understood," Tribble says.

Studies of individuals who have not had a heart attack or stroke have had mixed results when participants consumed antioxidants as vitamin pills to prevent a first heart attack or stroke.

Evidence of health benefits from vitamin E are stronger in studies of individuals who have already had a heart attack or stroke. These trials looked at whether vitamin E supplements can prevent heart attacks in patients with existing heart disease.

For example, in the Cambridge Heart Antioxidant Study, the risk of a non-fatal heart attack among individuals who took vitamin E during the study was 77 percent lower compared with patients in the control group who did not take vitamin E. All the patients studied in the trial had heart disease.

"While the data from studies to date are very encouraging, they need to be confirmed by additional studies," says Tribble.

What's more, several studies have yielded surprising findings that underscore the need for caution when recommending nutritional supplements. For example, the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study, which primarily involved male smokers, showed no benefits from antioxidant vitamin pills. In contrast, some adverse effects were noted, particularly for beta-carotene, which appeared to confer an increased risk of death from lung cancer.

"In view of these findings, the most prudent and scientifically supportable recommendation for the general population is to consume a balanced diet with emphasis on antioxidant-rich fruits, vegetables and whole grains," Tribble concludes. "This advice is consistent with the current dietary guidelines of the American Heart Association."

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Media advisory: Dr. Tribble can be reached at 510-486-5033. (Please do not publish numbers.)

For journal copies only, please call: 214-706-1173
For other information, Darcy Spitz: 212-878-5940



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