Two new studies have concluded that antioxidants' reputation of helping to prevent heart disease is not deserved.

• US researchers tested the effects of a traditional regimen of a statin and niacin vs those agents plus antioxidants (vitamins C and E, selenium, and beta-carotene) in 160 patients with coronary disease. Only those receiving the statin-niacin combination showed an improvement: LDL levels dropped 42% and HDL increased 26% after one year. Plus, the researchers found that the cholesterol-lowering agents were less effective in those also taking antioxidants.

• Researchers in Australia concluded that "there is no convincing support for the common practice of taking antioxidant pills such as vitamin E to prevent heart attacks." They studied more than 1,100 adults, measuring dietary intake and assessing the plaque and thickness of the walls of the arteries in the neck. They found a very weak relationship between decreasing wall thickness and intake of vitamin E in the men, with no effect in women.

These experts advise people to stick with the proven preventive strategies of healthy eating, exercise, and quitting smoking. They particularly advise those who are taking cholesterol-lowering medication to stop taking antioxidants.

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Sources:

• Brown BG, Zhao XQ, Chait A, et al. Simvastatin and niacin, antioxidant vitamins, or the combination for the prevention of coronary disease. The New England Journal of Medicine, Nov. 29, 2001;345:1583-1592. (Abs.)
• American College of Cardiology. Study finds no evidence that antioxidant pills protect the heart. Journal of the ACC Highlights, December 2001.