Study finds vitamin E supplementation neutral in cardiovascular disease

08/03/05 Results from the recently completed Women's Health Study (WHS) indicate that vitamin E supplementation provided neither benefit nor harm in relation to first cardiovascular events including heart attack, stroke and death from cardiovascular disease. Though vitamin E was not found to reduce the risk of first-time cardiovascular events, it was found unequivocally to be safe for consumption at the level of 600 IU every other day. Additional analyses are being done to determine whether any secondary benefits were seen from the supplementation.

These findings are contradictory to certain previous reports that vitamin E, an essential nutrient and powerful antioxidant, lends a positive influence in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In addition, a number of plausible mechanisms have been demonstrated to explain the cardiovascular benefit.

A number of studies have shown protective role for vitamin E against cardiovascular disease, despite the fact that some, including WHS, have failed to demonstrate the benefit. One explanation for the inconsistencies is that cardiovascular diseases are multifactorial in etiology, and it is therefore difficult to demonstrate clearly the preventive role that vitamin E may play. Other studies are underway to seek an explanation for the inconsistencies.