IS VITAMIN E EFFECTIVE IN THE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE?

摘要

Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin whose main function is as an antioxidant that helps the body defend itself against free radicals (1). Observational epidemiological studies consistently show that individuals who choose to take high amounts of vitamin E through diet or supplements experience cardiovascular benefits, for which basic research provides plausible mechanisms. However, because the size of the postulated benefit is small to moderate, the confounding inherent in observational studies is asgreat as the effect size. Before the availability of randomized evidence, about 1 in 4 adults was taking vitamin E supplements in the United States. Eidelman and colleagues (2) recently conducted a computerized search of the English-language literature from 1990 to the present and found 7 large-scale randomized trials of the effectiveness of vitamin E in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Data were available on myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death.