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Antioxidants don't measure up in the latest study of over 20,000 patients Antioxidant vitamins have long been supported for their poten- tial role in the prevention and protection from the development of coronary heart disease(CHD) and with good reason. Oxidation of cholesterol parti- cles allows them to accumulate within the artery walls and ani- mal studies using antioxidants have demonstrated a slowing of the formation of plaque within these vessel walls with the addi- tion of antioxidant vitamins.  In human studies, antioxidant blood levels have been inverse- ly correlated with the incidence and mortality associated with vascular disease such as CHD and stroke.  However, large- scale randomized studies have been lacking and perhaps find- ings so far have only been indicative of an association between a healthy lifestyle and diet. The Heart Protection Study involved 20,536 adults with CHD, other vascular disease or diabetes.  Participants were ran- domly allocated to receive antioxidant vitamin supplemen- tation (600 mg vitamin E, 250 mg vitamin C, and 20 mg beta- carotene daily) or matching placebo.  Over the follow-up period, participants were assessed for heart and vascular related events such as death, heart attack and stroke, as well as non-cardiovascular events such as the development of cancer were recorded. This information certainly places doubt on the benefit of antioxi- dant vitamins in the patient pop- ulation studied.  However, it is important to realize that these individuals either had known car- diovascular disease or were at extremely high risk for its devel- opment.  It has been speculated that perhaps antioxidant vitamins are best utilized in those individ- uals who have not yet developed cardiovascular disease, but are simply at risk for its occurrence. Potentially antioxidants may still play a role in the primary preven- tion of these conditions, and therefore this may be the focus of further research.   However, the current large- scale randomized study sug- gests that antioxidant vita- mins play no significant role in the prevention of further cardiovascular events in indi- viduals with known cardiovas- cular disease or in those who are at high risk. Title:    MRC/BHF Heart Protection Study of antioxidant vitamin supplementation in 20,536 high-risk individuals: a randomized placebo-controlled trial Authors: Heart Protection Study Collaborative Group Source: Lancet 2002;360:23-33 Despite a significant rise in the vitamin blood lev- els in participants who received the antioxidant vitamins, there was no observed difference in any of the measured cardiovascular out- comes over a 5 year period.  In addition, there was no difference in the incidence of can- cer or other non-cardio- vascular disorders.

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