Heart

HEART DISEASE

Elderly people who took both vitamin C and vitamin E supplements had a decreased risk of death from heart disease and a 50 % lower risk of heart attack.
In the Nurses` Health Study involving over 87,000 women, there was a 41 % reduction in risk of heart disease for those who took vitamin E for more than two years.
In the Nurses` Health Study, vitamin C supplements were also related to a lower risk of heart disease.
In the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study involving almost 40,000 men, there was a 37 % reduction in risk of heart disease in men who took vitamin E for more than two years. The average intake in the lowest risk group was 400 IU perday.
To date, 17 human group studies have been published on flavonoid intake and the risk of coronary artery disease and stroke. Positive studies have shown reduction in mortality risk of up to 65 %.
The largest and longest study to date, done as part of the Harvard-based Nurses` Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, included almost 110,000 men and women whose health and dietary habits were followed for 14 years. The higher the average daily intake of fruits and vegetables, the lower the chances of developing cardiovascular disease. Compared with those in the lowest category of fruit and vegetable intake ( less than 1.5 servings a day ) , those who averaged 8 or more servings a day were 30 % less likely to have had a heart attack or stroke.
" Plentiful intakes of antioxidants have been associated with reduced risk of some chronic disease, in the same way that generous intakes of fruits, vegetables and grains have been associated with similar health benefits."