Vitamin supplements-increased heart disease reason

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

The apparently free-full-text-to-all, pdf-available paper below seeks to and

pretty

nicely, in my opinion, explains why supplements with two vitamins may be bad for

heart disease.

Cartmel B, Dziura J, Cullen MR, Vegso S, Omenn GS, Goodman GE, Redlich CA.

Changes in cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in the Vanguard

population of

the Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET).

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005 Oct;59(10):1173-80.

PMID: 16015255

Abstract

Background: The Beta-Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET) was terminated

21

months ahead of schedule due to an excess of lung cancers. Deaths from

cardiovascular disease also increased (relative risk=1.26 (95% confidence

interval

(CI) 0.99 & #8722;1.61)) in the group assigned to a combination of 30 mg

beta-carotene

and 25,000 IU retinyl palmitate (vitamin A) daily. The basis for increased

cardiovascular mortality is unexplained.

Design: We analyzed data on serum lipids, available for 1474 CARET Vanguard

participants who were enrolled in the two CARET pilot studies and transitioned

to

the Vanguard study. Total cholesterol and triglycerides were measured 2 months

prior

to, 4 and 12 months following randomization, and annually thereafter for up to 7

y.

Intervention: In the asbestos-exposed pilot (N=816), participants were assigned

to

beta-carotene and retinol or to placebo; in the smokers pilot (N=1029),

participants

were assigned to beta-carotene, retinol, a combination, or placebo.

Results: Serum cholesterol showed a decline over time in both arms; serum

triglycerides had a continuous decline over time in the placebo arm, but an

initial

increase that persisted in the active arm. Both serum cholesterol concentrations

(P<0.0003) and serum triglycerides (P<0.0001) were significantly higher in the

participants receiving vitamin A and/or a combination of vitamin A and

beta-carotene

(n=863) as compared to the placebo group (n=611). Those in this active

intervention

group had an average cholesterol concentration 5.3 mg/dl (0.137 mmol/l) higher

than

those in the placebo arm.

Conclusion: The differences in cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations

between

the groups following randomization may account in part for the unexpected excess

in

cardiovascular deaths seen in the active intervention arm of CARET.

http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v59/n10/full/1602229a.html

Al Pater, PhD; email: old542000@...

__________________________________

- PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005

http://mail.