carrot red
06-12-2003, 09:07 PM
Vitamins Do Not Cut Heart Risk, Scientists Say
London (Reuters) - Taking vitamin E and beta carotene supplements every day will not reduce the risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke and could even be harmful, American scientists said Friday.
Their analysis of 15 clinical trials into the use of vitamin E and beta carotene found no protective effect against cardiovascular disease.
"Vitamin E just does not do anything in people who have coronary disease or who are at high risk for coronary disease, and beta carotene may actually cause harm," Dr Marc Penn, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio, said in an interview.
He added that people should be discouraged from taking the vitamin supplements because there is a very small increased risk of dying from the illness.
Beta-carotene was linked to a 0.4 percent increase in all causes of death and a 0.3 percent rise in cardiovascular deaths.
Although the results of most of the trials were negative, Penn said doctors have been recommending the vitamins to patients with a high risk of cardiovascular disease.
In a report in The Lancet medical journal, Penn and his colleagues said there is no evidence that the supplements are effective in reducing the chances of suffering from the illness.
"We do not support the continued use of vitamin E treatment and discourage the inclusion of vitamin E in future primary and secondary prevention trials in patients at high risk of coronary artery disease," Penn added.
But the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing the dietary supplement industry ingredient suppliers and manufacturers, described the conclusions of the analysis as irresponsible and over-interpreted.
"It appears they are simply trying to make headlines by taking old news and adding drastic and unjustified recommendations," John Hathcock, CRN's vice president, said in a statement.
He added that vitamin E and beta-carotene were safe and essential nutrients for health.
Penn recommended that clinical studies of beta carotene be discontinued because of its risks.
"What worries us is that there may be physicians using these things instead of statin therapy which has been clearly documented to save lives," he said.
London (Reuters) - Taking vitamin E and beta carotene supplements every day will not reduce the risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke and could even be harmful, American scientists said Friday.
Their analysis of 15 clinical trials into the use of vitamin E and beta carotene found no protective effect against cardiovascular disease.
"Vitamin E just does not do anything in people who have coronary disease or who are at high risk for coronary disease, and beta carotene may actually cause harm," Dr Marc Penn, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio, said in an interview.
He added that people should be discouraged from taking the vitamin supplements because there is a very small increased risk of dying from the illness.
Beta-carotene was linked to a 0.4 percent increase in all causes of death and a 0.3 percent rise in cardiovascular deaths.
Although the results of most of the trials were negative, Penn said doctors have been recommending the vitamins to patients with a high risk of cardiovascular disease.
In a report in The Lancet medical journal, Penn and his colleagues said there is no evidence that the supplements are effective in reducing the chances of suffering from the illness.
"We do not support the continued use of vitamin E treatment and discourage the inclusion of vitamin E in future primary and secondary prevention trials in patients at high risk of coronary artery disease," Penn added.
But the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing the dietary supplement industry ingredient suppliers and manufacturers, described the conclusions of the analysis as irresponsible and over-interpreted.
"It appears they are simply trying to make headlines by taking old news and adding drastic and unjustified recommendations," John Hathcock, CRN's vice president, said in a statement.
He added that vitamin E and beta-carotene were safe and essential nutrients for health.
Penn recommended that clinical studies of beta carotene be discontinued because of its risks.
"What worries us is that there may be physicians using these things instead of statin therapy which has been clearly documented to save lives," he said.