Vitamins for Heart Health: Harm or Benefit?

Vitamins for Heart Health: Choose Foods, Not Supplements

Could the vitamins you’re taking to promote heart health really be damaging?

Until recently, it was believed that antioxidant vitamins, particularly vitamin E and beta carotene, might protect against heart disease and stroke, as well as cancer. But new research shows that taking these vitamins in supplement form can be harmful- even deadly.

In the case of vitamin E supplements, a review of 19 studies showed that daily doses of 400 IUs or more may significantly increase the risk of death from all causes. Meanwhile, two major studies showed that supplementation with beta carotene (a substance that is converted to vitamin A in the liver) increases the risks of lung cancer and death in smokers. Other recent studies have shown that there are no benefits to taking either vitamin E or beta carotene supplements to prevent cardiovascular diseases or cancer.

But studies suggest that antioxidants in foods do protect heart health. So keep eating plenty of foods that are packed with these vitamins. Foods rich in vitamin E include vegetable oils (especially safflower and sunflower oils), wheat germ, leafy green vegetables, and nuts (almonds and mixed nuts).

Foods rich in beta carotene are carrots, yams, peaches, pumpkin, apricots, spinach, and broccoli.

Note: If you are taking vitamin E supplements for protection against medical conditions other than cardiovascular diseases or cancer, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of higher dose vitamin E supplements.