AHA: Antioxidants a No Go for CVD

DALLASNumerous studies have been done on heart disease, includinghow to help prevent and treat it. Taking these studies into account, theAmerican Heart Association (AHA; www.americanheart.org)published the first set of evidence-based guidelines for the prevention ofcardiovascular disease (CVD) in women in its Feb. 4 issue of Circulation (109,4:672-93, 2004) (http://circ.ahajournals.org).Lifestyle changes and reducing major risk factors (such as blood pressure andcholesterol) were recommended, while antioxidant supplements were not.

The evidence refuting the heart benefits of antioxidants was based on recentclinical trials showing they held no benefit for CVD prevention and had possibleadverse effects, according to the reports authors. Researchers noted,however, that major trials have been limited to specific types and dosages ofthe supplements, and those results may not be indicative of dosages andcompounds not tested in clinical studies.