SearchDictionaryMobileLogin

Vitamin E supplementation in cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention: Part 1.

AbstractOBJECTIVE: To review clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of vitamin E supplementation in cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention. DATA SOURCES: Using the MeSH search terms alpha-tocopherol, tocopherols, vitamin E, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, malignancy, and clinical trials, a literature review was conducted to identify peer-reviewed articles in MEDLINE (1966-July 2005). STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Published materials including original research, and previous meta-analyses were included. Only English-language articles and trials on vitamin E alone or in combination with other vitamins or minerals were reviewed. Emphasis was placed on prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials. DATA SYNTHESIS: Eight clinical studies demonstrated contradicting results regarding the benefits of vitamin E in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. There is enough evidence from large, well-designed studies to discourage the use of vitamin E in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Secondary prevention requires more adequate clinical trials with selected populations to examine protective effects of vitamin E in cardiovascular disease. The findings of the studies reviewed do not provide evidence that vitamin E may reduce the risk of cancer; thus, at the present time, we do not recommend daily vitamin E intake for cancer prevention is not recommended. CONCLUSIONS: Available data do not support the supplementation of vitamin E in cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention.
AuthorsDavid Q Pham, Roda Plakogiannis (Affiliation: Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY 11201-5497, USA. david.pham at liu.edu)
JournalThe Annals of pharmacotherapy (Ann Pharmacother) Vol. 39 Issue 11 Pg. 1870-8 (Nov 2005) ISSN: 1060-0280 United States
PMID16189282 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Review)
Chemical References
  • Vitamins
  • Vitamin E
Topics
  • Cardiovascular Diseases (drug therapy)
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms (drug therapy, prevention & control)
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitamin E (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
  • Vitamins (pharmacology, therapeutic use)