Do vitamin supplements support a healthy HEART? Here is a Physicians Journal report for Vitamins E & C. From the CHAOS, Chambridge Heart Anti-Oxidant Study, a 71% reduction in second heart attacks was discovered in the group taking vitamin E during the test period. Review of studies. ref
Check out this report that tocotrienols have greater cardiovascular protection than just vitamin E as d' or dL' alpha tocopherol. Alpha tocopherol is the form mainly used in most research studies with mixed results. D' alpha represents the natural form while dL' alpha is the synthetic configuration. The L stands for the half of the synthetic molecules that form to the Left while the natural d' alpha molecules all form to the the Right. Could it be that vitamin E is more effective as a family group rather than just as d' or dL' alpha by itself? article
VITAMIN D
This is a gem of a study. When the heart is stressed and has to overwork, it enlarges and turns fibrous. A 2008 study shows that in animals, the hormone form of vitamin D prevents this enlarging and keeps out fibrous tissues. ref Fibrous tissues are probably formed to hold the heart together and help it withstand the increased stress from overworking. article
VITAMIN K
Vitamin K is involved in preventing artery stiffness and of course, blood coagulation. article
VITAMIN E
Vitamin E has of late found negative research on heart disease compared to many years of positive findings mainly from higher dietary levels of vitamin E. Perhaps the fact that research only used one form of E may be influencing negative results. article
Here is a review study on many vitamins including vitamin E on vascular calcificaton. Test subjects that added vitamin E supplements, largely just alpha tocopherol, exhibited increased cardio vascular calcification above the subjects with just higher dietary vitamin E levels (mixed also present in food). ref
What influence would taking the whole vitamin E family at lower dosages have on vascular calcifications? It is already known that vitamin K and magnesium have positive actions. Calcification is of course the incorporation of calcium forms into artery walls. The process is similar to bone building, just in the wrong area. Vitamin K activates osteocalcin produced by vitamin D to combine with calcium and other bone minerals and deposit them into bone. Vitamin K forms, especially K2, also activate a Matrix GLA protein in artery walls that prevents calcificaton. Magnesium helps control calcium movement in and out of cells.
Fish oils influence can be found here. article