Antioxidant Vitamins and Coronary Heart Disease

Abstract

This issue of the Journal contains two important reports of large-scale prospective studies, one in men¹ and one in women,² showing that the use of large doses of vitamin E supplements is associated with a significantly decreased risk of coronary heart disease. The study populations were enormous -- almost 40,000 men and more than 80,000 women -- and the participants were followed for four and eight years, respectively. The studies were very carefully conducted: there was more than 95 percent follow-up, independent validation of the dietary questionnaires, and careful documentation of end points. In both studies the benefit of vitamin . . .