What vitamin helps the heart?

[Guest guest]

Dear Reader,

 

What vitamin helps the heart?

 

I believe most people would choose “vitamin E” as the answer to that question.

And they’d be correct. But several recent studies have revealed surprising links

between another key antioxidant vitamin and heart disease prevention.

 

And here’s more good news: You’re probably already getting plenty of it.

 

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Supplement test

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In an article that appeared in a recent issue of Life Extension magazine, author

Laurie Barclay, M.D., meticulously catalogued a number of studies that explore

the protective effect of vitamin C on the heart. And while all of these studies

add up to an important body of evidence, I chose one to highlight in today’s

e-Alert because it specifically addresses the use of vitamin C supplements.

 

STUDY ABSTRACT

Harvard School of Public Health researchers examined the association between

vitamin C intake and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in more than

85,000 women who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study

 

 

Food frequency questionnaires were used to assess vitamin C intake from

dietary and supplemental sources

 

 

In 16 years of follow up, 1,356 cases of CHD were identified

 

 

Results showed a modest preventive effect against CHD among women who had the

highest vitamin C intake from all sources, compared to women with the lowest

intake

 

 

A “weak and not significant” protection against CHD was observed in women who

received most of their vitamin C from diet alone

 

 

Use of vitamin C supplements, however, was linked to a significantly lower

risk of CHD

In the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the authors state this

conclusion: “Users of vitamin C supplements appear to be at lower risk for CHD.”

 

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Add a little E

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Lowering CHD risk is just part of the vitamin C heart-health picture. Briefly,

here are three additional studies cited by Dr. Barclay:

 

 

1) In a trial that included a large number of male smokers, those with the

highest vitamin C intake had a 66 percent lower risk of developing CHD compared

to men with the lowest C intake.

 

2) In a study of healthy middle-aged men, those who had deficient vitamin C

levels were more than three times more likely to have a heart attack, compared

to men who were not vitamin C deficient.

 

3) An examination of heart attack patients showed that a daily combination of

1,200 mg of vitamin C, and 600 mg of vitamin E significantly reduced the risk of

a second heart attack and other life-threatening complications.

 

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C…A to Z

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Before you stock up on heart-healthy vitamin C supplements, there are two things

you should do.

 

First: Even though vitamin C is quite safe, it’s always best to talk to your

doctor or a trusted health care professional before making changes to your

supplement regimen.

 

Second: Read the e-Alert “Attack of the Vapors” (1/6/04), in which HSI Panelist

Allan Spreen, M.D., discusses vitamin C, A to Z. In addition to a complete

rundown of the different types of the vitamin, Dr. Spreen also offers invaluable

information about dosage, absorbency, and why it’s best to avoid time-release

capsules.

 

You can find “Attack of the Vapors” at this link:

http://www1.youreletters.com/t/456677/14824772/811814/0/

 

" Get off your ass and take your government back. " ~Rocky Ward

 

 

 

 

 

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