Antioxidants & Lipitor Increase Heart Attack Risks?

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Antioxidant & Lipitor Increase Heart Attack Risks JoAnn Guest Aug 04, 2003

17:10 PDT

I recently read that antioxidants combined with the anti-cholesterol

drug Lipitor can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke? Is this

true? I take 400-1000 mg of vitamin C and 400 IU of vitamin E daily plus

10 mg of Lipitor.

 

-- Anonymous

 

Today's Answer

(Published 08/07/2002)

You probably read about a report first published a year ago in the

Journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers at the University

of Washington, Seattle, found that the combination of antioxidant

vitamin supplements and cholesterol-lowering “statin” drugs (which

include Lipitor) resulted in a smaller increase in HDL, the “good

cholesterol” than was found when the drugs were used alone. In fact, the

results showed no increase in HDL(2), the component of HDL that is

considered responsible for most of the heart-protective effects.

 

The results suggest that the antioxidants – a combination of vitamins E

and C, beta-carotene and selenium -- interfered with the drugs’ ability

to raise HDL. An editorial accompanying this study cautioned physicians

to tell patients not to take antioxidant supplements to prevent or treat

coronary artery disease, especially with drugs to lower cholesterol.

 

To my knowledge, no study has shown that taking antioxidants actually

results in more heart attacks or strokes, but the findings of this

particular study are disturbing. To better assess their significance, I

consulted my colleague, Dr. Joseph Alpert, a cardiologist and chief of

medicine here at the University of Arizona. Dr. Alpert explained that

the study described above was very small (only 153 patients

participated) and that larger studies including thousands of patients

showed no adverse effects of taking both cholesterol-lowering statin

drugs and antioxidants. He also noted that, unfortunately, the larger

studies showed no advantage to the heart as a result of taking

antioxidants and said that it remains to be proved whether the vitamins,

taken over a long time are beneficial to the cardiovascular system.

 

I agree with Dr. Alpert that we need more evidence from more studies to

fully understand the effect of antioxidants on heart disease among

patients who already taking drugs to lower their risk.

 

We do know that antioxidants have many beneficial effects elsewhere in

the body – they boost immunity, enhance musculoskeletal and skin

integrity, and protect DNA from damage. I think it is okay to continue

taking your antioxidants (I would add mixed carotenoids and selenium.)

 

Dietary Recommendations:

 

 

Keep saturated fat intake low: no more than 5 percent of daily caloric

intake.

Increase omega-3 fatty acids, especially from fish.

Minimize consumption of refined carbohydrates.

Increase consumption of soluble fiber, such as oat bran.

Eat garlic, hot red pepper (chile), and shiitake mushrooms frequently.

Drink green tea regularly.

Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, including leafy greens,

orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, and red and purple fruits.

Eat beans, lentils and other legumes regularly.

 

 

 

Dr. Andrew Weil

http://www.drweil.com

 

JoAnn Guest

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DietaryTi-

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