Long-term Antioxidant Supplementation May Improve Cardiovascular Health

Patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors may be able to significantly improve their overall heart health by taking daily antioxidant supplements for an extended period of time, according to a new Middle Eastern study.

For the research, lead investigator Reuven Zimlichman and his colleagues from the Wolfson Medical Center in Israel recruited 70 hypertensive patients who had diabetes, decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels or who were smokers. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either antioxidant supplements or placebo pills for a period of six months.

Patients in the supplement group were given capsules containing vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10 and selenium.

At the point of follow-up, the researchers found that participants who underwent daily antioxidant therapy experienced increased large and small artery elasticity, which is a measure of improved cardiovascular health.

"This beneficial vascular effect was also associated with an improvement in glucose and lipid metabolism as well as significant decrease in blood pressure," said Zimlichman.

Furthermore the investigators found that those who received antioxidant supplements increased their levels of HDL cholesterol, also known as good cholesterol.

"The findings of the present study justify investigating the overall clinical impact of antioxidant treatment in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors," concluded Zimlichman.