Dynamic Chiropractic – May 21, 2005, Vol. 23, Issue 11
Vitamin E: Heart Disease and Cancer Rates in High-Risk Older Patients
By G. Douglas Andersen, DC, DACBSP, CCN
"The major finding of the HOPE trial, including the initial trial and trial extension, is the lack of benefit for vitamin E in preventing cancer or major cardiovascular events after a prolonged period of treatment and observation.
Furthermore, our studies raise concern about an increased risk of heart failure related to vitamin E."1
The above quote made headlines around the world. The Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) trial was an international one, involving 267 centers and 9,541 patients. It lasted 64 months, between December 1993 and April 1999. None of the patients was younger than 55 years old, and the mean age was 66. The participants were in a group considered high risk for cardiovascular disease. This was defined as having a history of coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, stroke, or diabetes mellitus.
Of the study participants, 4,761 took 400 IU of natural vitamin E daily for the duration of the study, and 4,780 took an identical placebo pill. The HOPE study was then extended an additional 49 months, from April 1999 until May 2003. It was called The Ongoing Outcomes study, or HOPE-TOO. One hundred and seventy-four of the original 267 centers continued to participate. In the 174 centers, there were 3,056 vitamin E patients and 3,060 placebo patients left over from the initial HOPE trial; 2,025 in the vitamin E group and 1,969 in the placebo group agreed to continue the intervention. Please note that this study was double blinded: Neither the researchers nor the patients knew who was taking the vitamin E.
Rather than give an opinion, a percentage, or an extrapolation, like doubling the risk, I thought that clinicians would prefer to look at the raw data when encountering patient questions such as, "Is vitamin E going to give me heart disease?" (When I see or hear a report telling me my risk for something is doubled, I am always irritated at receiving spin - because without raw data, doubling one's risk means little. For example, increasing your risk from 1 out of a million to 2 out of a million doubles your risk, as does increasing your risk from 1 out of 4 to 2 out of 4.)
Total Patients
Vitamin E
Placebo
HOPE
4761
4780
HOPE-TOO
2025
1969
Cardiovascular Deaths
Vitamin E
Placebo
HOPE
482
475
HOPE-TOO
364
361
Total
846
836
Cancer Deaths
Vitamin E
Placebo
HOPE
156
178
HOPE-TOO
128
133
Total
284
311
Deaths From All Causes
Vitamin E
Placebo
HOPE
799
801
HOPE-TOO
620
604
Total
1419
1405
HOPE Cardiovascular Events
Vitamin E
Placebo
Unstable Angina
712
698
Heart Failure
641
578
Myocardial Infarction
724
686
Stroke
270
246
Total Events
2347
2208
HOPE-TOO Cardiovascular Events
Vitamin E
Placebo
Unstable Angina
565
547
Heart Failure
519
443
Myocardial Infarction
580
534
Stroke
208
191
Total Events
1872
1715
HOPE Cancer Incidents
Vitamin E
Placebo
Breast
25
29
Colorectal
69
54
Lung
69
96
Melanoma
15
18
Oral and Pharyngeal
9
18
Prostate
116
119
Total Incidents
303
331
HOPE-TOO Cancer Incidents
Vitamin E
Placebo
Breast
19
26
Colorectal
61
44
Lung
58
74
Melanoma
13
17
Oral and Pharyngeal
8
15
Prostate
91
101
Total Incidents
250
277
Conclusion
I predict the HOPE/HOPE-TOO study will be used to advance the agendas on both sides of the supplement debate. It does appear that 400 IU of natural vitamin E increases the rate of nonfatal heart disease in high-risk older age populations. It also appears that 400 IU of natural vitamin E decreases some cancers in high-risk older populations.
Knowing the raw data will give you insight as to how biased a given author is when this study is quoted to support an argument. For example, an author with an anti-supplement bias can correctly state that in both the HOPE and HOPE-TOO trials, there were more deaths from heart disease in people who took vitamin E than in people who took placebos. Conversely, the author with the pro-supplement bias can say that in both the HOPE and HOPE-TOO trials, there were fewer deaths from cancer in those subjects who took vitamin E. Looking at the overall death rates due to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and deaths from all causes, it appears that 400 IU of vitamin E is neither the toxic substance that some authors will claim it is, nor is it a panacea for health that other authors will state.
Reference
Lonn E, et al. The HOPE and HOPE-TOO trial investigators. Effects of long-term vitamin E supplementation on cardiovascular events and cancer. JAMA 2005;293(11):1338-1347.
G. Douglas Andersen, DC, DACBSP, CCN Brea, California www.andersEnchiro.com
Click here for previous articles by G. Douglas Andersen, DC, DACBSP, CCN.
