Antioxidants Important for the Heart

According to a new study, specific antioxidant vitamins and minerals along with coenzyme Q10 may play an important role in reducing risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease. Excessive free radicals such as reactive oxygen species cause damage, which may result in increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Over 81 million American adults have cardiovascular disease, or more than one in three, according to the American Heart Association. Risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, being overweight, physical inactivity, smoking, having a family history of early-onset heart disease and increasing age.

This new randomized, placebo-controlled study investigated the effect of antioxidant supplementation in 70 subjects with multiple cardiovascular disease risk factors. The subjects received either a placebo or a supplement comprised of vitamin C (1,000 mg/day), vitamin E (400 IU/day), coenzyme Q10 (120 mg/day) and selenium (200 mcg/day) for 6 months’ duration. The subjects were evaluated with blood tests that included lipid levels; tests for blood sugar control and diabetes including hemoglobin A1c, insulin and C-peptide; the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (hs-CRP); and tests for factors associated with high blood pressure including endothelin, aldosterone and plasma rennin. The subjects were also evaluated using pulse wave contour analysis, which is a test to measure arterial elasticity.

The results of the study found that in the subjects supplemented with the combined antioxidants, there was a significant increase in the elasticity of small and large arteries. This group also showed an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL, “good” cholesterol), and a reduction in hemoglobin A1c, which indicates lower blood sugar levels over the previous 3 months. There were no significant changes in the placebo group.

The researchers stated, “Antioxidant supplementation significantly increased large and small artery elasticity in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. This beneficial vascular effect was associated with an improvement in glucose and lipid metabolism as well as decrease in blood pressure.”

Reference:

Shargorodsky M, Debbi O, Matas Z, Zimlichman R. Effect of long-term treatment with antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10 and selenium) on arterial compliance, humoral factors and inflammatory markers in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2010 Jul 6;7(1):55.

Vitamins C and E plus selenium are found in Extend Plus along with other important vitamins and minerals. Coenzyme Q10—including CoQ10-H2™, a more bioavailable form of this antioxidant nutrient that enhances energy production—also is available here as a standalone supplement.