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HOPE-TOO Study on Vitamin E Reveals Unexpected Results Not Found in Previous Large Trials on Nutrient

Posted on: Tuesday, 15 March 2005, 18:00 CST

CARSON, Calif., March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Research conducted on vitamin E for the past 50 years has demonstrated this antioxidant offers a variety of potential health benefits, including reducing the risk of Alzheimer's, cancer and heart disease. A new study, Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation -- The Ongoing Outcomes study (HOPE-TOO), published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), contained unexpected findings on vitamin E and heart health, which "cannot be confirmed at this time by other trials" and "could be due to chance" (according to the authors).

The study found patients over age 55 with heart disease, stroke or diabetes plus at least one other cardiovascular risk factor, who took vitamin E supplements, experienced an increased risk of heart failure. Researchers note "this adverse effect of vitamin E was unexpected and cannot be confirmed at this time by other trials." In contrast, the Cambridge Heart Antioxidants Study (CHAOS) concluded there was a decrease in deaths from heart failure in participants taking vitamin E supplements who had coronary artery disease (N. Stephens et al; Lancet 1996). The Vitamin E Consumption and the Risk of Coronary Disease in Women study, conducted by Harvard, evaluated more than 80,000 nurses and found a 41% reduction in the risk of heart disease in nurses who took vitamin E for two years (Stampfer et al; New England Journal of Medicine 1993).

"Other research has not found an increase in heart failure in patients taking vitamin E. As the HOPE-TOO authors state, further studies need to be undertaken on the effects of vitamin E and heart disease. Until that occurs, these results can only be interpreted as questionable, chance findings that need to be confirmed," cautioned Dr. Ishwarlal Jialal, M.D., Ph.D., Robert E. Stowell Endowed Chair in Experimental Pathology, Director of the Laboratory for Atherosclerosis and Metabolic Research and Professor of Internal Medicine and Pathology at UC Davis School of Medicine.

"Previously, vitamin E has been shown in some randomized clinical trials to reduce cardiovascular events, viral infections in the elderly and prevent institutionalization in patients with Alzheimer's disease," added Dr. Jialal. The HOPE-TOO researchers acknowledged: "We did not identify any previous articles of an adverse effect of vitamin E on heart failure, and none of the previous large randomized trials of vitamin E published information about heart failure." Interestingly, in a previous study, the same HOPE-TOO investigators found in the sub-group of diabetic patients "there were no significant differences between the study groups in the rates of all secondary outcomes which included heart failure and hospitalization for heart failure" (Lonn et al; Diabetes Care 2002).

Vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin, acts as an antioxidant to protect cells in the body against the effects of free radicals, which are potentially damaging by-products of cell metabolism. Dr. Jialal concluded the scientific community should conduct long-term, large scale trials in well-defined populations to continue to understand the benefit of vitamin E as well as any potential adverse effects.

About Leiner Health Products

Founded in 1973, Leiner Health Products, headquartered in Carson, Calif., is America's largest manufacturer of store brand vitamins, minerals, and supplements. The company also is a leading store brand supplier in the rapidly growing over-the-counter (OTC) market. Selling products exclusively to the nation's leading retailers, Leiner provides nearly 40 food, drug, mass and club merchants with over 3,000 products, creating extraordinary, high quality store brands at a great value. Leiner markets a full line of vitamins, minerals and supplements under its YourLife(R) brand, which is the leading brand worldwide in the US military. The company also markets over- the-counter drugs under its Pharmacist's Formula(R) brand. Last year, Leiner produced 28 billion doses.

Leiner Health Products

CONTACT: Crystal Wright, Vice President, Public Relations, of LeinerHealth Products, +1-202-291-8481

Web site: http://www.leiner.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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