Vitamin E Cuts Cardiovascular Risks
THE QUESTION: In a test-tube environment, vitamin E shields cells from the destruction caused by molecules known as free radicals. This has fueled hope that vitamin E supplements would act similarly in the human body, staving off heart disease and cancer. Put to the test of a long-term, high-quality medical study, does this belief hold true?
THIS STUDY randomly assigned 39,876 healthy women 45 years of age and older to take vitamin E (600 international units) or a placebo every other day for about 10 years. Occurrence of cancer was virtually the same in the vitamin E and placebo groups (1,437 cases vs. 1,428). Taking vitamin E did not affect the frequency of heart attacks or strokes but did result in 24 percent fewer deaths from cardiovascular causes. Among women 65 and older, those who took vitamin E had 34 percent fewer heart attacks and 49 percent fewer cardiovascular deaths than the placebo group. The stroke rate was similar among older women in both groups. Overall, the researchers said their study “does not support recommending vitamin E supplementation” to prevent cancer or cardiovascular disease among healthy women.
WHO MAY BE AFFECTED BY THESE FINDINGS? Women middle-aged and older.
CAVEATS: An earlier study, based on observation rather than experimentation, had indicated that high doses of vitamin E (400 IU or greater) may increase the risk of death; this study did not find a difference in deaths overall between those who did and did not take vitamin E. About half of the participants also took low doses of aspirin; the authors determined this did not affect the results. Participants in the study were considered at very low risk for heart disease; whether the findings would apply to women at higher risk remains unclear.
FIND THIS STUDY: July 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association; abstract available online at jama.com.
LEARN MORE ABOUT VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENTS at ods.od.nih.gov and hsph.harvard.edu/nutrition source.
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Tai chi aids balance in aged
THE QUESTION: The older people get, the more likely they are to fall and the greater the chance that falls will result in injury or disability. To stem this chain of events, might it help to practice tai chi – a series of slow, gentle, continuous movements – that has been used in China for its health benefits for centuries?
THIS STUDY involved 59 people over 60 years old who were considered prone to falls. Twenty-nine were assigned to take part in a tai chi exercise program and 30 were advised to continue their ordinary routines, without participating in regular exercise classes. The tai chi group exercised for 35 minutes three times a week for 12 weeks. During this time, nine people in the tai chi group (31 percent) experienced a fall, compared with 15 of the non- exercisers (50 percent). Tests given at the end of the study showed improved physical fitness for the exercisers, who had stronger knee and ankle muscles and were more flexible and mobile than the others. They also had better balance than the non-exercise group and could walk a short distance in 25 percent less time than at the start of the study, whereas the non-exercisers took 14 percent longer.
WHO MAY BE AFFECTED BY THESE FINDINGS? Older people. Balance, strength, coordination and eyesight all change as people age, contributing to falls.
CAVEATS: The study did not follow standard randomization procedures: The researchers assigned an entire group of people to one of the two treatment options rather than randomly assigning individuals. The study involved a small number of participants.
FIND THIS STUDY: July issue of the Journal of Advanced Nursing; abstract available online at journalofadvancednursing.com.
LEARN MORE ABOUT PREVENTING FALLS at mayoclinic .com and nia.nih.gov.