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Vitamin E Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Failure!

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Posted 4/4/2005 7:22 PM (GMT -6)
Gee, everytime I research one thing, I seem to find something else that's new to tell ya'll! yeah Some of you may have already heard this, but somehow I missed it...Vitamin E has been "linked to an increased risk of Heart Failure".

 

Now that's not to say that Vitamin E is not good for you, but I think the general recommendation for most of these vitamins is to get them fresh from the foods they come naturally in and not take them in excess.  At least that's my feeling on the subject. :) Otherwise, you'll find articles like these popping up years down the road and more problems on the way!

 

To read the source that I found this at, go to...

 

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_23540.html

 

I think you'll find it quite interesting!

 

Teri tongue

 

 

Posted 4/5/2005 1:51 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Teri! Yes i think it was on cbs news during the winter months. I asked my endo and cardio about that and i was told the supplement was ok as long as i didn't try to take over 400 ius.

Of course, i feel the same as you do about getting most of my vitamins and minerals from the foods i eat. But Sometimes supplements are necessary.

When i go to my drs appts i take all my meds and supplements with me so the dr can review them and advice. Vitamin E is what i use instead of asprin. Asprin caused my stomach to bleed so i stopped taking it.
Posted 4/5/2005 8:21 PM (GMT -6)
jtu,

 

I hope you've been doing okay~I've missed you!!

 

Sorry to hear about the aspirin-it does have that effect on some people-I thought I'd be one of them, as I have GERD and a very sensitive stomach, but I've taken it in the enteric form with no problems, thank goodness!

 

Teri tongue

Posted 4/6/2005 8:10 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Teri!, Yes im doing good. I've started my walking regimen again. I try to walk at least three miles daily for six days. Im taking clonidine, verapamil and torsemide for bp. My bp has finally started to reduce since i started back exercising.

Next week i am starting my non-smoking attempt. I know it will be hard, but i've already started looking for new hobbies to replace the smoking. Also, i start my gardening and that should help alot.

I also took ecotrin for about three yrs, but was told it wasn't as good as the non-coated asprin. Asprin irritates my stomach and it interfer with my other meds. What's a body to do? lol.

Well, stay well and keep posting those very informative articles.
Posted 4/6/2005 8:38 PM (GMT -6)
Way to go, jtu! Such positive steps you are taking~good for you!! Please stay in touch and whenever you need some encouragement on the stop smoking cause, let us know!! I'm an ex-smoker myself and I know how hard that is to do-but we're behind you all the way!!

Hugs, Teri :)
Posted 5/8/2005 9:31 PM (GMT -6)
Thought I'd bump this one back up, as someone had just asked again about Vitamin E and I didn't remember if this was the same article that I'd mentioned or not...check it out! Teri :)
Posted 5/9/2005 12:41 AM (GMT -6)
re: vitamin E:  help or hurt?

i have been researching this extensively  (with about 10 other cardiac-related

topics!).  the cooper clinic in dallas, which has always focused on heart health

and has a world class lab, recommends 400 units a day.  i talked with them last

week; they are sticking by this recommendation.  kowalski (not a heart doc but

a cardiac researcher) agrees.  but i have also read that over 30 units a day can

be dangerous!  i seem to be reading 50 of one, 50 of the other.  i asked my

cardio boy about this and he said:  "no research definitely supports that it helps. 

and no research definitely supports that it hurts.  i recommend that you take a

standard multi-vitamin every day to ensure you're getting a good amount, AND

try to get what you can in a healthy diet."

i'm interested in what you all have to say about vitamin E.

SO many studies say that it's invaluable, but now i'm "afeard" to take my 400!

libby

Posted 5/9/2005 10:24 PM (GMT -6)
I take a multivitamin with 33 IU's in it..it's a "for over 50". lol Guess they figure that's all we need! :)

And Libby, you are right, that is how science is...one thing about Vit.E if you've researched it, then you know it's stored in your body. It's a fat soluble vitamin. You don't want to get too much of a good thing, cuz then that can cause problems. If you eat pretty healthy and take a multivitamin/mineral tab. then I'll go along with that thought process. I think we do need it, but not in great dosages-it could then be harmful.

My thoughts...Hugs, Teri :)
Posted 5/9/2005 10:25 PM (GMT -6)
PS...Libby, what else are you researching?? Enquiring minds, ya know?! :) Teri
Posted 5/9/2005 10:34 PM (GMT -6)

teri,

WAY too in-depth study of cholesterol sub-components!  VLDL, apo-a, apo-b, etc.  studies of exercise/gender on HDL.   long-term effects of various niacins.  oat bran! (vs oat meal based things).  statins alone and/or stains with something else.  drug-eluting stents...

that's for starters!

libby

Posted 5/9/2005 10:38 PM (GMT -6)
Is this something that you are doing on your own? Please share what you've learned!?

Hugs, Teri :)
Posted 5/9/2005 10:49 PM (GMT -6)

hi teri,

pick a topic, and i'll relate.  i'm a phd researcher!  so i have about 30 books of reference in front of me, much to my doc's dismay sometimes.

let's see if i can pick the most important out of the bag about cholesterol sub-components:  total cholesterol, yes, important, but studies are starting to show that rather than LDL being the "major villian" that HDL may after all be a greater indicator of probs.  because LDL is just carried along by VLDL, i think it's the biggest bad guy.  it's a nasty little ship transporting the LDL.  apparently ratio is becoming the hot new important number to look at, although particle size is of course crucial as well.  i think that we should all know those 2 numbers:  VLDL and ratio.  however, of seeming equal importance or a strong indicator are the 2 factors called:

Lp(a) - pronounced "el-pee-little A" and C-reactive proteins.  you really have to ask for these tests, even at the cardiologists.  they keep looking at me askance when i ask what those numbers are.  i know that homocystine levels are crucial as well. 

so you have to take all those numbers into account when you consider your overall cardiac health, and likelihood of further illness, etc.  not just total cholesterol and LDL, the darlings of the moment.  they ARE important, but just one factor. 

by the way, ALL studies are now showing that exercise markedly increases the HDL in only men!  women, only slightly -

libby

Posted 5/9/2005 11:29 PM (GMT -6)
Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Libby-I do appreciate that!! :) I've not gone quite as indepth, but I've learned a lot these past several years, and I agree with the HDL being a bigger risk factor-I've had low HDL since my heart attack 7 yr.'s ago...that's why I'm so proud that it's now 72! I still take 1 mg. of prescribed Folic Acid since my MI as my homocystine levels were way off-now it's fallen back in place as well. :) that VLDL is like "Very Likely (a) Devlish Lipid"! lol

Hugs, Teri :)
Posted 5/9/2005 11:31 PM (GMT -6)
hi teri,

and here i am shooting for a 50 with my HDL.  to what single

factor can you attribute that 72?  that seems almost impossible!

that's FANTASTIC, my new friend-moderator-fellow texan!

libby

Posted 5/9/2005 11:38 PM (GMT -6)
Libby, I can't honestly tell you for sure, but as I've mentioned before, since my bypass in Aug., '04-I've stopped caffeine of all kinds, eat lots of fruit and yogurt for breakfast, or whole grain cereal (daily). I drink lots of water! I eat very little red meat, mainly cuz I've just lost the taste for it. Those are the basics.

And by the way, though my lungs aren't the greatest, the Pulmonary Dr. tells me he was pretty amazed at how good they do look and work!
The cardio Dr. says, I look great!-and for all that you can comment on how much my heart's been through and how much is "broken", they're surprised at how good I'm able to keep up with the things that I do do!

So perhaps I have an angel or two helping me out?! Teri :)
Posted 5/9/2005 11:39 PM (GMT -6)
Hang in there Foat Worth Gal!! lol
Posted 5/10/2005 8:50 PM (GMT -6)

hi teritexan,

i'm doing just about all those things you are too (as much water as possible, rarely have red meat, although i DO have something interesting to tell you about THAT, another time!, lots of fruits, etc.).  boy i am going to have something to really shoot for to catch up to your good numbahs!

libby

Posted 5/10/2005 9:44 PM (GMT -6)
and I've been cheating a lot lately...something about comfort food and stress... Hugs, Teri :)
Posted 5/10/2005 9:48 PM (GMT -6)
PS Have you seen this site yet?

http://www.lipidsonline.org/slides/slide01.cfm?q=VLDL

Real exciting stuff! :)
Posted 5/10/2005 10:52 PM (GMT -6)

hi teri,

boy, that's what i call exciting bedtime reading!

no, really, thanks for the site link.  i'm a rabid reader of all this (maybe THAT'S my problem, rabies? hoho), so i appreciate it.

now, why do i keep double spacing?  why is this happening when i type on this site?

libby

Posted 5/10/2005 11:09 PM (GMT -6)
I don't know...lol Teri :)
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