Vitamin E decreases diabetic heart risk

Researches found that a daily intake of 400 IUs of vitamin E by Type 2 diabetics reduced the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and related deaths by more than 50 percent, compared to Hp 2-2 patients who took a placebo pill. Researchers said 40 percent of the diabetic patients carry the malignant Hp 2-2 gene.

Of the 1,434 Hp 2-2 patients who took part in the study, seven had a heart attack, compared to 17 who did not take the vitamin. Dr. Andrew Levy who led the research said no side effects were observed in patients who took vitamin E.

The researchers also found that diabetic patients with Hp 2-2 are two-to-three times more vulnerable than other diabetics to suffer a heart attack.

The genetic testing for the Hp 2-2 gene will be useful for a large group of diabetes patients who could potentially derive cardiovascular benefit from this very inexpensive treatment, Dr. Andrew Levy of the Technion Faculty of Medicine Levi said.

The finding supports the old notion that antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin E help prevent heart disease. Previously, cardiologists used to prescribe vitamin E for their patients, but the practice was by and by abandoned as several major studies in the past decade showed no heart-protective effects in taking vitamin E mega-doses.

The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology is a leading science and technology university that commands international reputation for its pioneering work in nanotechnology, biotechnology, aerospace, water-resource management and medicine.