Table 4.
Clinical trials concerning effects of vitamin E supplementation on CV disease
| Study | Study population | Supplementation | Endpoints studied | Results | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHAOS | Patients with angiographically proven coronary atherosclerosis | 400–800 IU/d ~510 d |
Cardiovascular death and non-fatal MI as well as non-fatal MI alone | ↓ Risk of non-fatal MI | (70) |
| SPACE | Haemodialysis patients with pre-existing CVD | 800 IU/d ~519 d |
MI (fatal and non-fatal), ischaemic stroke, peripheral vascular disease (excluding the arteriovenous fistula) and unstable angina; each of the component outcomes, total mortality and CVD mortality |
↓ Composite CVD endpoints and MI | (71) |
| WHS | Healthy women | 600 IU/d ~10 years |
Composite endpoint of first major cardiovascular event (non-fatal MI, non-fatal stroke or CV death) and total invasive cancer | No overall benefit for major clinical CV events or cancer; no effect on total mortality; ↓ CV mortality ↓ Risk of major cardiac events (≥65 years); ↓ Risk of developing blood clots in the legs and lungs |
(72,73) |
| GISSI | MI survivors | 300 mg/d ~3·5 years |
Death, non-fatal MI and stroke | No effect on CV outcomes | (74) |
| HOPE | Adults with high risk of CV events | 400 IU/d ~4·5 years |
Composite of myocardial infarction, stroke and death from CV causes; unstable angina, congestive heart failure, revascularization or amputation, death from any cause, complications of diabetes and cancer |
No effect on CV outcomes; ↑ Risk of heart failure in those who took vitamin E |
(75,76) |
| SU.VI.MAX | Healthy adults | Combination of 120 mg of vitamin C, 30 mg of vitamin E, 6 mg of β-carotene, 100 μg of selenium and 20 mg of zinc ~7·5 years |
Incidence of cancer and ischaemic CVD | ↓ Risk of cancer and risk of dying from any cause only in men; AO pill did not offer any protection against heart disease |
(77) |
| PHS-II | Healthy men | 400 IU/d ~8 years |
Major CV events | Vitamin E supplements alone or with vitamin C did not show any protection against heart attacks, strokes or cardiovascular deaths | (78) |
IU, International Units; MI, myocardial infarction; CVD, cardiovascular disease; CV, cardiovascular; AO, antioxidant.