Disheartening study. (goodnews).(vitamin E, beta carotene found ineffective in treating heart disease)

A new study in the June 14, 2003 issue of The Lancet offers the best evidence yet that supplements of vitamin E or beta-carotene--two of the antioxidant vitamins--don't protect the heart, as once believed.

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) analyzed 15 major studies of nearly 220,000 people before coming to these conclusions. This is considered a large-scale study, which looked at high and low doses, at both sexes of all ages and at all causes of death--not just heart disease. Neither vitamin E nor beta-carotene reduced mortality; in fact, beta-carotene was found to increase cardiac risk for smokers.

It may be that in order to be effective, these antioxidant vitamins require certain compounds found in the whole foods that furnish them.

In the various studies analyzed by the CCF, the doses for vitamin E ranged from 50 to 800 International Units (IUs) daily. Beta-carotene doses ranged from 15 to S0 mg daily.

The overall death rate--whether from heart disease or any other cause--was the same for all groups, whether vitamin E was taken or not.

For those taking beta-carotene, however, ...