10.01.03
Indication: Heart disease and cancer
Source: Circulation, 2003;108:802-807.
Research: The extended Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE-TOO) trial studied 9541 heart disease patients, who were administered either angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor ramipril or vitamin E. Researchers examined the effects of both of these treatments against a placebo group to see their effects on the reduced risk of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death in high risk patients.
Results: While the ramipril testing was stopped early due to clearly positive results, the vitamin E study continued to its term. After a seven-year intervention, 21% of patients receiving the supplement experienced heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death compared to approximately 21% of patients taking placebo. Approximately 15% of those taking vitamin E had a heart attack compared to 14% of those on placebo, while almost 6% of the vitamin E patients had a stroke compared to 5% of those on placebo. Just over 10% of the patients on vitamin E died from cardiovascular reasons compared with about 10% of those on placebo. Researchers also investigated the effects of vitamin E on cancer but there did not appear to be any statistical differences between the vitamin E group and the placebo group.
Source: Circulation, 2003;108:802-807.
Research: The extended Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE-TOO) trial studied 9541 heart disease patients, who were administered either angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor ramipril or vitamin E. Researchers examined the effects of both of these treatments against a placebo group to see their effects on the reduced risk of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death in high risk patients.
Results: While the ramipril testing was stopped early due to clearly positive results, the vitamin E study continued to its term. After a seven-year intervention, 21% of patients receiving the supplement experienced heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death compared to approximately 21% of patients taking placebo. Approximately 15% of those taking vitamin E had a heart attack compared to 14% of those on placebo, while almost 6% of the vitamin E patients had a stroke compared to 5% of those on placebo. Just over 10% of the patients on vitamin E died from cardiovascular reasons compared with about 10% of those on placebo. Researchers also investigated the effects of vitamin E on cancer but there did not appear to be any statistical differences between the vitamin E group and the placebo group.