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Vitamins C and E and Beta Carotene Do Not Prevent Cardiovascular Events in Women

Still no benefit from these antioxidants alone or combined

Several trials have assessed the value of antioxidant supplementation for preventing cardiovascular events. In a randomized trial, researchers used a factorial design to examine the effect of three antioxidants (vitamins C and E and beta carotene) in 8171 women (mean age, 60) with a history of cardiovascular disease or three or more risk factors for CVD.

During a mean follow-up of 9 years, 1450 women experienced a cardiovascular event. Overall, no reduction was observed in the primary endpoint (combination of myocardial infarction, stroke, revascularization procedures, or cardiovascular cause of death) with vitamin C (500 mg/day), vitamin E (600 IU every other day), or beta carotene (50 mg every other day) when taken alone or in combinations. Among a subgroup of women with a history of CVD, vitamin E was associated with a marginally significant reduction in the primary endpoint.

Comment: Consistent with prior randomized trials, this study failed to show an overall benefit from vitamin C, vitamin E, or beta carotene for prevention of cardiovascular events. Antioxidant vitamin supplements are heavily advertised as conferring cardiovascular benefit — a claim that patients should be told remains unproven.

— Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine September 27, 2007

Citation(s):

Cook NR et al. A randomized factorial trial of vitamins C and E and beta carotene in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in women: Results from the Women’s Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study. Arch Intern Med 2007 Aug 13/27; 167:1610.

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