Guest guest Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 http://www.askbillsardi.com/sdm.asp?pg=ehope VITAMIN E: DON'T GIVE UP HOPE By Bill Sardi They'll stare you right in the face and tell you they've got the hard scientific facts right in their hand that proves high-dose vitamin E pills are potentially harmful to patients who are at a high risk for adverse cardiovascular events like prior strokes and diabetes. They are the legions of cardiologists who treat the world's cardiac cripples. Yet everyday these doctors prescribe drugs that induce a form of heart failure without a hint of hesitation. Don't bother these busy white coats with the facts, they have permanently dismissed supplemental vitamin E from their high risk patients now that a study has found " an unexpected and disturbing increase in heart failure rates in patients assigned to vitamin E. The potential for harm suggested by our findings strongly supports the view that vitamin E supplements should not be used in patients with vascular disease or diabetes mellitus. " [Journal American Medical Assn 293: 1338-47, 2005] This conclusion was reached after a newly released study showed 400 international units of natural-source vitamin E increased the risk of heart failure among high-risk patients from 12.1 to 13.5 percent (a 13% relative increase, or in hard numbers a 1.4% increase). There was a slight decrease in the risk for cancer among this high-risk group, 13.2 compared to 13.7 percent among patients taking an inactive placebo tablet, but this slight decreased risk was discounted by the researchers. The data was acquired from the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation [HOPE] trial conducted between 1993 and 1999, and extended to 2003 among patients at least 55 years old with vascular disease or diabetes mellitus. The news headlines read " Large Doses of Vitamin E Could Be Risky, " but the missing asterisk is that this was only among high-risk patients, all of whom were on numerous powerful medications that deplete the heart of essential nutrients needed for proper function. It's difficult to imagine how 400 IU of vitamin E would be beneficial when so many potentially cardio-toxic drugs are being over-employed. Statin cholesterol-lowering drugs and beta blockers, taken by 30-40 percent of the patients in this study, deplete heart muscle of coenzyme Q10, an essential antioxidant needed to boost energy levels in heart muscle. Aspirin, taken by 75% of study participants, depletes the body of vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, and sodium. Beta blockers produce such undesirable side effects that most patients stop using them, but the science says they reduce mortality rates. In the real world, far fewer heart failure patients will live longer after being prescribed beta blockers if for no other reason than they simply don't take their pills. WHICH OF THESE CAUSE HEART FAILURE? Here are the drugs given to the patients in the HOPE trial which concluded that 400 units of natural-source vitamin E slightly increases the risk of heart failure Beta Blocker Slows heart rate Side effects cause most patients to stop taking this drug 39.8% of HOPE study patients took beta blockers Diuretics (Water pills) Depletes vitamin B1 and induces heart failure 15.3% of HOPE study patients took diuretics Statin Cholesterol-lowering Drug Depletes coenzyme Q10 May cause heart failure and severe muscle deterioration 30.1% of HOPE study patients took statins Aspirin Depletes folic acid, vitamin C, iron 75.7% of HOPE study patients took aspirin Calcium Blockers Blocks entry of calcium into heart muscle 46.4% took calcium blockers in HOPE study Vitamin E Antioxidant All patients in HOPE study took 400 IU vitamin E Do These Pills Cause Heart Failure? The researchers admitted that " this finding could be due to chance, although several factors persuade us to believe that it may be real. " The deciding measure would be the pumping ability of the heart muscle, known as the ejection fraction. A healthy heart pumps at least one-half of the amount of blood in the left ventricle with each heartbeat. In the HOPE study, vitamin E pills decreased the ejection fraction by 1.66 percent. Is this Significant? Apparently the researchers thought so. Is this enough to warrant worldwide headlines that at-risk patients stop taking vitamin E? Hardly. What the public will hear is that high-dose vitamin E supplements are problematic, even for healthy individuals. What cardiologists should be saying to the public is that, according to the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey, 27 percent of the US population has a low vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) blood concentration which put them at increased risk for heart disease and cancer. [American Journal Epidemiology 150: 290-300, 1999] In fact, a recent survey shows that only 8.0% of men and 2.4% of females in the US meet the new Estimated Average Requirements for vitamin E intake from foods alone and need to take supplements. [Journal American Dietetic Assn 104: 567-75, 2004] Another important medical report regarding heart failure that should have gained the attention of the news media is the relatively recent discovery that diuretics (water pills), often prescribed to patients with high blood pressure, induce a deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine) which may result in heart failure. Vitamin B1 is needed for heart muscle energy. [Nutrition. 17:351-2, 2001; Annals Cardiology Angeiology (Paris) 50:160-8, 2001] All diuretics deplete the body of vitamin B1. [Nutrition Reviews 58:319-23, 2000] High-dose vitamin B1 can reverse many cases of heart failure. [J Cardiovascular Pharmacology Therapy 8:313-6, 2003] All patients taking diuretics should be taking supplemental vitamin B1. Agent Change in heart pumping action. Ejection Fraction Comments Reference Vitamin E* -1.66% Not likely to have any effect on heart failure. Research funds should have been spent studying vitamin B1 and coenzyme Q10 in heart failure. See below Coenzyme Q10 +6.00 No decreased heart rate or fatigue, improves physical performance and endurance. Some studies show CoQ10 does not improve ejection fraction. Molecular Aspects Medicine s155-63, 1994; Ann Internal Med 132:636-40, 2000 Thiamine (vitamin B1) +4.00 Diuretics deplete vitamin B1 and may induce heart failure. Provision of high-dose vitamin B1 may reverse heart disease and elevate ejection fraction among diuretic users. American Journal Medicine 98:485-90, 1995 Beta Blocker + 7-8% Increases pumping strength of heart by slowing the heart rate, but induces fatigue and impotence, and most patients refuse to take this drug over time. The very lowest dose of beta blockers must be used so as not to induce heart failure (slowed heart rate)! In the short-term, beta blockers may reduce mortality rates among heart failure patients by 2%. [European Heart Journal 18:560-5, 1997] Z Kardiology 86:1-8, 1997; Nippon Rinsho 61: 816-20, 2003. Statin Drug -- - -- Statins may produce muscle aches, risk of death, elevated liver enzymes, depressed mood, and low sex hormones. There is concern that statin drugs may induce heart failure. Statins may induce central nervous system problems (ataxia) which can be resolved with vitamin E. [indian J Med Science 59:20-3, 2005] Biofactors 18:101-11, 2003 Diuretics water pills - - - Depletes body of vitamin B1 (thiamine) which induces heart failure Nutrition. 17:351-2, 2001 Vitamin B1 (thiamine) +4.00 (Diuretic users) Restores energy vitamin to heart muscle among diuretic users J Cardiovascular Pharmacology Therapy 8:313-6, 2003 * HOPE study: 39.8% of patients on beta blockers, 75.7% taking aspirin, 30.1% taking statin cholesterol-lowering drugs, 15.3% taking diuretics, 46.4% taking calcium blockers Copyright 2005 Bill Sardi, Knowledge of Health, Inc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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