Antioxidant Group
There is ample evidence that compounds called free radicals can lead to damage to several parts of the body. This "oxidative stress" can lead to aging, cancer, and damage to arteries, leading ultimately to CVD. The body's natural defenses may not always be sufficient to combat excess free radical damage. In fact, such inadequate defense against oxidative stress has been linked specifically to CHD, cancer, and degenerative diseases of the nervous system. The ability of free radicals to damage molecules essential to cellular integrity such as DNA, proteins, and cholesterol and fatty acids has been conclusively demonstrated. As such, the potential of antioxidant nutritional supplementation to prevent and treat these underlying mechanisms of cardiovascular disease is intriguing. Indeed, there is evidence that antioxidant vitamin consumption is associated with an inverse relationship with mortality from CHD. The U.S. Male Health-Professionals Study found that beta-carotene intake had no association with risk of CHD among those who had never smoked, but was inversely associated in current and former smokers. This suggests that some of the damage from smoking is caused by free radicals and can be reversed by antioxidant intake.
Has the time come to integrate nutritional supplements into traditional cardiovascular care? The answer is a definite "yes" for some supplements, "no" for others, and "maybe" for many, if not most. As evidence from scientific studies becomes increasingly available in this arena, which of the above categories these supplements fall into will become increasingly clear.
