Heart disease, a condition that =cost the United States $316.4 billion in 2010, kills over half a million Americans each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is the leading cause of death in the country. Treatments for heart disease vary according to what kind of heart disease exists, but physicians often recommend lifestyle changes, medications or surgery. Sufferers may also opt for vitamin supplements to help with heart disease.
Vitamin C
Taking vitamin C supplements can help prevent heart disease. The Medline Plus website reports that vitamin C plays a vital role in growing and repairing tissues throughout the body, including the heart. This vitamin and antioxidant stop cells in the body from sustaining damage due to free radicals, smoking and other pollutants. The body does not make or store vitamin C in the body, which means all vitamin C must come from the diet. Adults should ingest 75 to 90mg of vitamin C each day. Research published in the November 2008 journal "Free Radical Biology and Medicine" indicates that taking 1,000mg of vitamin C daily for a period of two months can decrease levels of a biomarker used to predict heart disease. More research is needed to determine vitamin C's true effectiveness in treating or preventing heart disease.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E supplements may play a role in reducing the incidence of heart disease. This vitamin also contains antioxidant properties. According to MayoClinic.com, vitamin E is associated with preventing clogging and hardening of the arteries, cardiovascular disease in diabetes patients, stroke and general heart disease prevention, but there is not enough evidence to prove the effectiveness of taking vitamin E supplements for these purposes. In some cases, research indicates vitamin E has no effect. Research published in the August 2007 issue of the "Free Radical Biology and Medicine" journal argues that studies which do not indicate a relationship between vitamin E and decreased number of heart attacks lacked the appropriate dosage for effectiveness. Researchers determined the appropriate dose is 3,200IU per day over a 16-week period. The United States Institute of Medicine recommends that adults take no more than 1,000mg of vitamin E each day. Too much vitamin E can cause reduce kidney function and cause gonad problems, although the MayoClinic.com website reveals that short-term vitamin E use is generally safe.
Vitamin B9
Vitamin B9, also known as folic acid or folate, may decrease the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. The body does not store vitamin B9, nor does it manufacture it, meaning all B9 must come from the diet. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, vitamin B9 works with vitamins B6 and B12 to control levels of an amino acid in the body called homocystein, which may play a role in heart disease. Recommended dosage of vitamin B9 is 400mcg per day, although to reduce the risk of heart disease a dosage of 400 to 1,200mcg is beneficial. Research published in the November 2006 "British Medical Journal" indicates that enough evidence exists to recommend taking vitamin B9 for the prevention of heart disease; however, researchers in a study from an October 2009 Cochrane Systematic Review say vitamin B supplements have no effect on the prevention or treatment of heart disease. More research is needed to determine if vitamin B9 or any of the B vitamins works to reduce heart attacks, strokes and other heart diseases. University of Maryland Medical Center notes that high levels of vitamin B9 may hide a vitamin B12 deficiency.
References
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Heart Disease Facts
- MayoClinic.com: Heart Disease
- UCBerkeleyNews: Vitamin C Lowers Levels of Heart Disease Biomarker
- EurekAlert: Vitamin E's Lack of Heart Benefit Linked to Dosage
- ScienceDaily: Use Folic Acid to Cut Heart Disease
- EurekAlert: B Vitamin Pills Have No Effect
