Antioxidants May Boost Heart Health And Metabolism

Long-term antioxidant supplementation significantly increased large and small artery (blood vessel that transports blood away from the heart) elasticity in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors [1].

This beneficial vascular effect was associated with an improvement in glucose and fat metabolism as well as decrease in blood pressure.

Marina Shargorodsky, Ortal Debbi, Zipora Matas and Reuven Zimlichman report these positive results in a randomized controlled trial of combined vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10 and selenium capsules [2].

Oxidative stress has been considered as a potential pathogenic mechanism for initiation and progressive narrowing and hardening of the arteries over time.

Since oxidative stress is activated by risks factors such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, and smoking, patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors [1] could obtain beneficial effect from antioxidant treatment.

Vitamin C and vitamin E may protect DNA from damage, enhance antioxidant defenses and restore the health of the endothelium (cells lining blood vessels). Co-Q10 plays an essential role as an electron carrier in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, may improve endothelial dysfunction in diabetic patients. Selenium, via its role in various antioxidative enzymes, can provide significant protection of the coronary artery endothelium against damage by oxidative stress.

Additionally, combinations of vitamin C and vitamin E with coenzyme Q10 and selenium may underlie the synergism between them and amplify the positive antioxidant effect.

Previous clinical trials into the cardiovascular health effects of antioxidants had reported equivocal results. In order to shed more light onto the matter, Shargorodsky and her colleagues randomised the 70 patients from the Wolfson Medical Center's hypertension clinic to receive either antioxidants or placebo capsules for six months.

Tests at the beginning of the trial, after three months and at the six month mark revealed that the patients in the antioxidant group had more elastic arteries leading to decreased blood pressure. Better blood glucose and cholesterol profiles were reflected in the significant decline HbA1C and the significant increase in HDL-cholesterol.

The authors caution that since the present study has focused on patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors, the application of our findings to other patient populations remains uncertain.

Journal Reference

Shargorodsky M, Debbi O, Matas Z, Zimlichman R. Effect of long-term treatment with antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10 and selenium) on arterial compliance, humoral factors and inflammatory markers in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Nutrition & Metabolism. 2010 Jul 6;7(1):55.

[1] Cardiovascular risk factors (National Cholesterol Education Program):

• Hypertension (systolic blood pressure >=140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP >=90 mm Hg and/or taking antihypertensive medication);
• Diabetes (fasting plasma glucose level >= 7 mmol/l on at least two blood samples and/or taking glucose lowering agents, hypertriglyceridemia (>=1.7 mmol/l);
• Low HDL cholesterol level (>1.03mmol/l in men and>1.3mmol/l in women); or
  
• Current cigarette smoking.
  

[2] The daily oral supplementation dose used in the study was with vitamin C (1000 mg), vitamin E (400 i.u), coenzyme Q10 (120 mg) and selenium (200 mcg)

Hovid Q10 Plus contains vitamin C (150 mg), vitamin E (50 i.u), coenzyme Q10 (10 mg) and selenium (50 mcg) fortified with provitamin A (60mg) per capsule, all of which are at a fraction of the concentrations used in the study

However, if you currently do not have any multiple cardiovascular risk factors, you want to consider Hovid Q10 Plus as part of your health maintenance strategy.

Hovid Q10 Plus is available at RM93.00 for 60 capsules, packed in an amber glass bottle.

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