NY Times Article - Vitamins Vs. Drugs

[Guest guest]

November 29, 2001

 

Nutrients' Use in Heart Cases Is Questioned in New Study

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

 

 

 

OSTON, Nov. 28 (AP) — Vitamins E and C and other

antioxidants are probably worthless for heart patients and

may even interfere with widely used cholesterol-lowering

drugs, a study has found.

 

Antioxidant nutrients, especially vitamin E, were widely

recommended a few years ago to keep the heart healthy. But

several recent large studies failed to show any benefit, and

now this one raises the possibility antioxidants might even

be harmful for some.

 

The new study, in today's New England Journal of Medicine,

suggests that antioxidants may blunt the benefits of statins

and niacin, which are used to lower LDL, the bad form of

cholesterol, and raise HDL, the good kind of cholesterol,

which helps keep arteries healthy.

 

Antioxidants are " not proven to be of any value, said Dr. B.

Greg Brown of the University of Washington, who conducted

the study. " In fact, they interfere. "

 

Statins, cholesterol lowering drugs sold under brand names

like Zocor, Pravachol, Lipitor, Mevacor and Lescol, are

taken by millions of Americans. Antioxidants appear to

protect the heart's arteries in animals, and studies show

that healthy people who eat vitamin-rich food and take

antioxidants seem to have less heart disease.

 

But only one major study in people with heart disease has

shown a benefit from antioxidants. Several others, including

a British study of 20,000 patients released earlier this

month, found no effect.

 

Dr. Brown studied 160 people with heart disease whose LDL

levels were normal but whose HDL was low, under 35 in men

and 40 in women.

 

Doctors tested the effects of a combination of Zocor and

niacin, which is vitamin B3 but not an antioxidant. Some

also received large doses of four antioxidants — vitamins E

and C, beta carotene and the trace element selenium.

 

After three years, just 3 percent of the people taking Zocor

and niacin suffered new heart attacks or strokes, died or

needed bypass surgery or angioplasty; 14 percent of those

who added antioxidants to their drugs had these bad

outcomes.

 

Buildups in the patients' arteries actually shrank slightly

in the patients on Zocor and niacin, while they increased

minimally in those who also took antioxidants.

 

Dr. Eric Rimm of the Harvard School of Public Health, who

found an apparent benefit of vitamin E on healthy people in

a study eight years ago, said the new study was small and

did not sort out the effects of various antioxidants.

 

" I don't think it is so compelling that people should be

scared to take vitamin E, " Dr. Rimm said, although " the

weight of the evidence suggests there probably is not a

benefit in people with existing coronary disease. "

 

Dr. Norman Krinsky of Tufts University, who headed an

Institute of Medicine panel on antioxidants, said the study

" raises a real question " about the possible interference of

the nutrients with cholesterol drugs. But Dr. Krinsky said,

" A blanket condemnation of antioxidants for prevention may

be premature. "

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/29/01 6:05:45 PM, califpacific writes:

 

<< Vitamins E and C and other

> antioxidants are probably worthless for heart

> patients and

> may even interfere with widely used

> cholesterol-lowering >>

 

Their interference with cholesterol loweing drugs is probably a good thing in

the long run

 

Liz

[Guest guest]

Dear Group,

 

I suspect very strongly that this type of research is

exactly what I have written about before.

 

I believe this study was bought and paid for by Big

Pharma not because it's true but because they want

more market share and that means a smear campaign

against vitamins.. Unfortunately to get that they want

more sickies.

 

The statement that anti- oxidents are not beneficial

to hearts is riduculous.

 

More comments interspersed into this article also.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

 

--- Kenneth A <philoska wrote:

> November 29, 2001

>

> Nutrients' Use in Heart Cases Is Questioned in New

> Study

> By ASSOCIATED PRESS

>

>

>

> OSTON, Nov. 28 (AP) — Vitamins E and C and other

> antioxidants are probably worthless for heart

> patients and

> may even interfere with widely used

> cholesterol-lowering

> drugs, a study has found.

>

> Antioxidant nutrients, especially vitamin E, were

> widely

> recommended a few years ago to keep the heart

> healthy. But

> several recent large studies failed to show any

> benefit, and

> now this one raises the possibility antioxidants

> might even

> be harmful for some.

 

Not a few years ago. They were recommended for 60

years by non pharma connected doctors and scientists,

but they cannot get publicity like the paharma's

sales/publicity relations can get.

 

 

 

 

>

> The new study, in today's New England Journal of

> Medicine,

> suggests that antioxidants may blunt the benefits of

> statins

> and niacin, which are used to lower LDL, the bad

> form of

> cholesterol, and raise HDL, the good kind of

> cholesterol,

> which helps keep arteries healthy.

>

> Antioxidants are " not proven to be of any value,

> said Dr. B.

> Greg Brown of the University of Washington, who

> conducted

> the study. " In fact, they interfere. "

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Interfere in what way??????

With sales I suspect.

I also suspect that the levels given in these studies

were of a small dose, enough to sustain life but not

large enough to correct the damage caused by the long

standing defiency of many years.

 

 

>

> Statins, cholesterol lowering drugs sold under brand

> names

> like Zocor, Pravachol, Lipitor, Mevacor and Lescol,

> are

> taken by millions of Americans. Antioxidants appear

> to

> protect the heart's arteries in animals, and studies

> show

> that healthy people who eat vitamin-rich food and

> take

> antioxidants seem to have less heart disease.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

There are tons of studies that show that they are

beneficial

 

 

 

>

> But only one major study in people with heart

> disease has

> shown a benefit from antioxidants. Several others,

> including

> a British study of 20,000 patients released earlier

> this

> month, found no effect.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

No vitamin E maker could afford the studies and the

cost of publicity to educate the world and for what

rate of return.

 

 

 

 

>

> Dr. Brown studied 160 people with heart disease

> whose LDL

> levels were normal but whose HDL was low, under 35

> in men

> and 40 in women.

>

> Doctors tested the effects of a combination of Zocor

> and

> niacin, which is vitamin B3 but not an antioxidant.

> Some

> also received large doses of four antioxidants —

> vitamins E

> and C, beta carotene and the trace element selenium.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

In my opinion the Niacin is what probably raised the

HDL, not the the statins.

If they want to prove how good the statins are don't

combine it with a vitamin and then take the credit for

the benefit of the vitamint and give it to the statin.

In fact I have read where statins cause low HDL. I do

understand that they destroy the CO Q-10 also as well

as many other good and necessary substances.

This not a way to do a real study to determine cause

and effect of a certain substance. Also not Big Pharma

is starting to sell perscription niacin and saying the

over the counter niacin is not good.

 

 

 

 

>

> After three years, just 3 percent of the people

> taking Zocor

> and niacin suffered new heart attacks or strokes,

> died or

> needed bypass surgery or angioplasty; 14 percent of

> those

> who added antioxidants to their drugs had these bad

> outcomes.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Ws this because of the stains or the vitamin???

 

 

 

>

> Buildups in the patients' arteries actually shrank

> slightly

> in the patients on Zocor and niacin, while they

> increased

> minimally in those who also took antioxidants.

>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

Which studies have shown can occur when the HDL

componenet is higher, which usually is a direct result

of increased niacin intake.

 

 

 

 

 

> Dr. Eric Rimm of the Harvard School of Public

> Health, who

> found an apparent benefit of vitamin E on healthy

> people in

> a study eight years ago, said the new study was

> small and

> did not sort out the effects of various

> antioxidants.

>

> " I don't think it is so compelling that people

> should be

> scared to take vitamin E, " Dr. Rimm said, although

> " the

> weight of the evidence suggests there probably is

> not a

> benefit in people with existing coronary disease. "

>

> Dr. Norman Krinsky of Tufts University, who headed

> an

> Institute of Medicine panel on antioxidants, said

> the study

> " raises a real question " about the possible

> interference of

> the nutrients with cholesterol drugs. But Dr.

> Krinsky said,

> " A blanket condemnation of antioxidants for

> prevention may

> be premature. "

>

>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The Drs. Shute had great succes treating with vitamin

E 60 years ago and the same for many since.

 

Linus Pauling and Dr. Mattias Rath showed 20 years ago

that heart disease can be reversed with Vitamin C nad

amino acids

 

These breakthrougs have been denied widespread

knowledge by the pharmacuetical business interests.

These studies above are just some more misinformation

to detract people from taking something lacking in the

body and needed to fix itself.

 

Have you had a statin deficiency lately?? Doctors are

now using this terminology to induce people to take

this and other crap . They are telling people to take

statins, antidepressants, and many others to take it

like a diabetic needs insulin. Insulin is a natural

product of the body and some need to replace it if the

means to produce it naturally are damaged or

destroyed. But statins and many of these other

medications prescribed for so called chronic

conditions are definately not natural to the body and

can cause great harm to your health.

 

Just my opinion,

 

Frank

 

 

=====

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