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The Wellness Institute
363 hits
| Aug 30, 2004 4:28 pm |
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re: re: re: Antioxidants - The Continuing Saga |
David Tannen
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Lester Packer has been reccommending high dose alpha lipoic acid for years and has made his living doing so. He now works with Pharmanex. He hardly offers an unbiased opinion.
You are correct that a recent JAMA article rcommended taking a multiple vitamin. However, they do not reccommend taking the incredible megadoses promoted in these last few posts.
A more recent meta analysis from the American Heart Association is offered below followed by a link for an extremely interesting study done with food.
Get antioxidants from food, not supplements, says American Heart Association
DALLAS, Aug. 3 – Research fails to justify routine use of antioxidant supplements to prevent or treat cardiovascular disease, according to an American Heart Association science advisory published in today’s issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
“At this time, there is little reason to advise that individuals take antioxidant supplements to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease,” said Penny Kris-Etherton, Ph.D., lead author of the association panel, and Distinguished Professor of Nutrition in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the Pennsylvania State University.
A review of research conducted on antioxidants between 1994 and 2002 showed that antioxidant supplements largely have no effect on preventing or treating cardiovascular disease.
The American Heart Association continues to promote a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, legumes, poultry and lean meats to derive antioxidant vitamin benefits.
“While the research shows that antioxidant supplements have no benefit, the role oxidative stress plays in the development and progression of heart disease has yet to be clarified,” Kris-Etherton said. “We still know too little about the oxidative mechanisms in humans and lack biochemical markers with which to evaluate antioxidants.”
Ongoing studies should answer important questions about the role of oxidation in atherosclerosis, she said.
Until those questions are resolved, this review presents the current science and helps clinicians understand that they should not recommend antioxidant supplements to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
“We know that diets high in fruits and vegetables are associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Thus, following a diet consistent with the American Heart Association’s dietary guidelines is recommended. In addition, achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight and being physically active are important to reduce cardiovascular disease risk,” Kris-Etherton said.
The antioxidant studies reviewed fell into three headings: no effect on cardiovascular patients, adverse effects on cardiovascular patients, and beneficial effects on cardiovascular patients. The majority of the studies found antioxidants have no effect on cardiovascular patients.
The committee reviewed nine studies on vitamin E and cardiovascular disease (CVD) – five showed the supplement had no effect on CVD events, three showed beneficial effects, and one showed a negative effect. Four studies of beta-carotene were reviewed – three showed no effects on CVD and one showed a negative effect. Five studies of antioxidant “cocktails” were reviewed – two showed no effects and three showed negative effects. Finally, two studies of vitamins E and C together (one with vitamin E as alpha-tocopherol plus slow-release vitamin C and the other with vitamin E plus vitamin C) showed beneficial effects on CVD events.
Most of the patients in the studies reviewed were either heart patients or considered candidates for cardiovascular disease. As such, some patients were taking drugs to treat abnormal lipids and high blood pressure.
Co-authors are Alice H. Lichtenstein, M.D.; Barbara V. Howard, M.D.; Daniel Steinberg, M.D.; and Joseph L. Witztum, M.D.
NR04 – 1292 (Circ/Kris-Etherton)
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Source: http://www.americanheart.org/
Here is the link for the addtional study.
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/2791/
> Chris Hollis wrote:
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>Hi, Gordon, it's great to hear from you!
>
>You mentioned that whole food is one of the Best supplements... I agree with that provided you can get whole foods that are nutritious.
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>In generations past, our diet consisted of foods that contained sufficient nutrients. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. Due to green harvesting, mineral depletion in our soils, highly processed foods, food preparation, and cold storage we have created a major gap in our antioxidant protection. Our foods have become
>significantly depleted in their content of antioxidants and supporting nutrients.
>
>Lester Packer, PhD, in his book, The Antioxidant Miracle, states "more than 70 percent of Americans will die prematurely from diseses caused by or compounded by deficiencies of antioxidants. It is virtually impossible to
>get the optimal amount of antioxidants through food alone."
>
>The Journal of the American Medical Association stated "recent evidence has shown that sub optimal levels of vitamins, even well above those causing deficiency syndromes, are risk factors for chronic disease such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. A large portion of the general population is apparently at increased risk for this reason....The high prevalence of sub optimal vitamin levels implies that the usual diet provides an insufficient amount of these vitamins."
>The article concludes by recommending that every adult should consume high quality supplements.
>
>Have a 'nutritious' day, Gordon!
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