Vitamin E supplementation in cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention: Part 1.
OBJECTIVE
To review clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of vitamin E supplementation in cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention.


METHODS
Using the MeSH search terms alpha-tocopherol, tocopherols, vitamin E, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, malignancy, and clinical trials, a literature review was conducted to identify peer-reviewed articles in MEDLINE (1966-July 2005).


METHODS
Published materials including original research, and previous meta-analyses were included. Only English-language articles and trials on vitamin E alone or in combination with other vitamins or minerals were reviewed. Emphasis was placed on prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials.


RESULTS
Eight clinical studies demonstrated contradicting results regarding the benefits of vitamin E in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. There is enough evidence from large, well-designed studies to discourage the use of vitamin E in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Secondary prevention requires more adequate clinical trials with selected populations to examine protective effects of vitamin E in cardiovascular disease. The findings of the studies reviewed do not provide evidence that vitamin E may reduce the risk of cancer; thus, at the present time, we do not recommend daily vitamin E intake for cancer prevention is not recommended.


CONCLUSIONS
Available data do not support the supplementation of vitamin E in cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention.
Pham
David Q
DQ
Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY 11201-5497, USA. david.pham@liu.edu
Plakogiannis
Roda
R
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014815:Vitamins; D014810:Vitamin E