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Past research has suggested that taking carotenoids and vitamin E may protect against heart attacks, however now researchers have found that this may not be the case.
Researchers compared the levels of carotenoids and tocopherols in the blood of over 500 men who later had a heart attack with those of a control group of similar men who did not have a heart attack. They expected that individuals with high levels of these antioxidants in the blood would have a low risk of developing heart disease, however overall there were was no evidence that the carotenoids or tocopherols protected against heart attacks.
Another article may help explain why this effect occurred: while there is evidence that commercial vitamin E supplements, which consist primarily of alpha tocopherol, do not provide adequate benefits, a form of vitamin E that contains a mixture of tocopherols (alpha, beta, delta, and gamma) and tocotrienols (alpha, beta, delta, and gamma) may be needed to protect against disease and provide maximum benefits.
Circulation August 19, 2003
Life Extension Foundation May, 2002
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