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Despite a lack of evidence that antioxidant vitamins prevent cardiovascular disease, many patients take them, and some physicians recommend them. In this meta-analysis, researchers from Cleveland Clinic attempted to clarify whether β-carotene and vitamin E are beneficial.
For β-carotene, 8 randomized trials (with 138,000 subjects) were identified. Compared with controls, β-carotene recipients had significantly higher rates of overall mortality (7.4% vs. 7.0%) and cardiovascular mortality (3.4% vs. 3.1%). β-carotene did not appear beneficial in either primary- or secondary-prevention trials.
For vitamin E, 7 randomized trials (with 82,000 subjects) were identified. Outcomes in the vitamin E and control groups were similar for overall mortality…