- FDA reviewers support efficacy of Forest Labs' IV antimicrobial ceftaroline for treating pneumonia, complicated skin and skin structure infections
- FDA updates label for Pfizer's Tygacil to warn of increased mortality risk
- FDA approves Abbott's HBV molecular diagnostic for measuring viral load
- FDA approves new version of Allergan's Lumigan
- FDA approves Reckitt Benckiser's Suboxone sublingual film for treatment of opioid dependence
- Private FFS MA plans may be linked with higher costs for beneficiaries, GAO report shows
- Pediatric subspecialty telephone consultations may be cost-saving for Medicaid, research reveals
- Use of mental health services greater in health plans with parity in cost sharing, data find
- Public opinions appear split on health care affordability, satisfaction, survey finds
- In Brief: California Supreme Court
Vitamin E cardioprotective in older diabetics with certain genotype
Monday, December 03 2007 | Comments
What's This?
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Vitamin E supplementation reduces the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) among older patients with type 2 diabetes who produce a less active form of the antioxidant protein haptoglobin (Hp).Mega-doses of vitamin E can be lethal when used indiscriminately. However, Dr. Andrew P. Levy, at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, and his associates maintain that "high-dose antioxidant therapy may only provide benefit to individuals who suffer from particularly high levels of oxidative stress."
The Hp-2 protein is an inferior antioxidant compared with the Hp-1 protein, the Israeli research team explains in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, published online on November 21. In longitudinal studies of diabetic patients, 2- to 5-fold increases in cardiovascular events were documented in Hp 2-2 carriers compared with those with Hp 1-1 and Hp 1-2 genotypes.
In the current prospective trial, Dr. Levy's group randomized 1434 individuals 55 years of age or older (mean 69 years) with type 2 diabetes and the Hp 2-2 genotype to vitamin E 400 U/day or placebo. The primary outcome was a composite of MI, stroke and cardiovascular death.
At 18 months, the primary outcome was significantly reduced (2.2%) in the vitamin E group compared with the placebo group (4.7%), which lead to early trial termination.
"The event rate in Hp 2-2 individuals randomized to vitamin E was remarkably similar to that of Hp 1-1 and Hp 2-1 individuals" identified in the same target population.
Dr. Heiden and his associates stress that the results are relevant only to Hp 2-2 diabetic individuals over the age of 55 and can not be generalized to the entire population.
Furthermore, vitamin E should not be used to replace other proven therapies to prevent cardiovascular disease.
The researchers hope to motivate the "establishment of a platform for a substantially larger trial without the limitations of the current study, and which could therefore constitute the basis for conclusive treatment guidelines."
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2008;28.
Comments
Be the first to write a comment for this article!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
- White blood cell count in presence of elevated ESR, CRP level predicts infection status in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, researchers report
- AISRS useful in measuring methylphenidate therapy for adults with ADHD
- Adalimumab improves peripheral arthritis, enthesitis, axial signs, symptoms of AS in patients with long-standing disease treated in real-life practice, researchers report
- High levels of hemoglobin A1C appear to increase risk of complications following CABG
- Radiotherapy, chemotherapy increase risks of second malignancy, cardiovascular disease similar to smoking in patients with testicular cancer, researchers report
- School-based nutrition, exercise intervention program may not maintain BMI decreases through 10 months in overweight students, data indicate
- Careful discharge planning, follow-up vital for high-risk neonates facing hospital discharge, updated AAP guidelines state
- MTA Cooperative Group uses 8-year MTA follow-up data to assess long-term outcomes in children with ADHD
- Radiotherapy, chemotherapy increase risks of second malignancy, cardiovascular disease similar to smoking in patients with testicular cancer, researchers report
- Lipid-modifying drugs may decrease all-cause, cardiovascular-specific mortality in patients on peritoneal dialysis, study data suggest
