Antioxidant Vitamins May Harm Your Heart, Not Help It, Study Says

Results from a study reported in the August issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine indicate that some of the antioxidant vitamins that many of us take for heart health do not help at all. In fact, they may be harmful.

A large, randomized trial followed 8171 women for nine years to determine if vitamins C, E, and/or beta carotene protect women from these heart disease "events." All of the women in the study had either a history of heart disease or at least three risk factors for getting heart disease. With the exception of Vitamin E, which had a slightly positive effect, these vitamins did nothing to prevent heart attacks or strokes. What's more, other studies confirm these findings.

Because these supplements are so heavily advertised for heart health, it's important to know that such claims remain unproven. Does that mean you should quit taking these vitamins? Not necessarily. They may be helpful in promoting health and longevity in other ways. The Cleveland Clinic, U.S. News World & Report's #1-ranked heart program, conducted its own review of the best studies, which included a total of 81,000 people (both men and women). They found that while Vitamin E did nothing to protect against death from all causes, beta carotene had a small but significant negative effect. That is, more people who took beta carotene supplements died than those who did not take them!

The researchers from the Cleveland Clinic offer this advice: "Even though supplements did not prove beneficial in avoiding heart problems, foods that are sources of antioxidants are still recommended. There are benefits to getting vitamins in food that don't necessarily occur in supplement form.

For example, foods rich in antioxidants may have nutrients such as flavonoids and lycopenes which are not necessarily included standard oral vitamin supplements. Eating a diet rich in antioxidant-containing foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, is linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular (heart and blood vessels) disease."