The antioxidant Vitamin E may help reduce high levels
of inflammation-causing proteins, C-reactive protein
(CRP) and IL-6, that may contribute to heart disease.
Blood levels of both CRP and IL-6 are often elevated
in patients with heart disease, indicating an increased
risk for heart attack.
Although investigators studied the effect of vitamin
E on diabetes patients, they found that both diabetics
and healthy people benefited from taking the vitamin.
Use of vitamin E supplements lowered levels of CRP
by 30% and IL-6 up to 50% in all three groups, according
to a statement from the University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center at Dallas.
Researchers divided participants into three groups:
One group had type 2 diabetes and heart disease
Another group was comprised of those with only type
2 diabetes
Another group consisted of healthy adults
All the participants had blood work done at the beginning
of the study, after 3 months of taking a natural vitamin
E supplement (1,200 IU), and again 2 months after consuming
no vitamin E supplement.
"This study shows that vitamin E lowers CRP significantly
in both diabetics and nondiabetics. The research suggests
that vitamin E could be an additional therapy on our
quest to reduce (heart) disease," study co-author
Dr. Sridevi Devaraj, noted in a statement.
Free Radical Biology and Medicine October 23, 2000
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