Although there are several lines of evidence to support the relationship of vitamin E levels to coronary artery disease in both sexes, dietary intake of vitamin E may have even greater implications for
women. This was seen in a study involving 5,133 Finnish men and women, all initially free of coronary artery disease. During a follow-up period of 14 years, 244 cases of fatal coronary heart disease occurred. The results showed the relative risk of heart disease mortality to be 32% lower for men, but 65% lower for women with the highest intake of vitamin E. Women with the highest intakes of dietary vitamin E and carotenoids (i.e., beta carotene,
lutein) had a whopping 84% lower adjusted relative risk of coronary heart disease mortality than women with intakes of both vitamins in the lowest one-third.
Recently discovered relatives of vitamin E - the tocotrienols - have been shown to have cholesterol-lowering properties also.
CoQ10 is a vital nutrient known to help recycle oxidized vitamin E. The body's production of CoQ10 decreases with age, so women over age 35 need to consider supplementation. Research suggests that at various dosages, CoQ10 can stabilize a woman's blood pressure, reduce symptoms of mitral valve prolapse (a cardiac condition affecting more women than men), strengthen the heart's pumping action, relieve shortness of breath from cardiac causes and improve exercise capacity.
A study presented at a major symposium on cholesterol - lowering drugs suggests that people taking the aggressively prescribed statin drugs may have a particular need for CoQ10 supplements. It seems that this category of drugs, long described as having no side effects, actually depletes blood levels of CoQ10.
Magical Minerals
Magnesium can stabilize cardiac electrical conduction, heart muscle and vascular membranes, and so acts like a calcium-channel blocker. Research has shown that many people with diseased hearts have low levels of magnesium and CoQ10 in their heart cells. Magnesium relaxes blood vessel
walls - there is a direct relationship between low levels of the mineral and high blood pressure. Women with ventricular arrhythmia, mitral valve
prolapse, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy or high blood pressure should consider magnesium supplements.
Calcium is important, too, because of its synergistic relationship with magnesium. Low calcium levels can also render a woman more vulnerable to high blood pressure.
A Woman's Supplemental Game Plan
To prevent spina bifida, heart disease and cervical cancer:
| FOLIC ACID | 400 to 800 mcg daily |
| VITAMIN B6 | 10 mg daily |
| VITAMIN B12 | 100 mcg daily |
| To lower elevated Lp(a) levels: | |
| VITAMIN C | 500 to 1,000 mg daily in divided doses |
| DHA | 300 to 600 mg twice daily |
| FLAXSEED SHAKE | 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed (try a coffee grinder) in 8 oz of soy milk daily |
| NIACIN | 300 to 500 mg daily |
| Note: If niacin flushing is a problem, use lower, time-released doses as prescribed by your doctor. Any woman taking niacin should be monitored by a physician. | |
| For optimum heart health, take a daily multivitamin/mineral formula that provides: | |
| VITAMIN E | 200 to 400 lU |
| COQ10 | 60 to 90 mg (for prevention in women over age 30); 90 to 180 mg in combination with 400 mg of magnesium (for mitral valve prolapse); 180 to 240 mg, in three divided doses (for blood-pressure lowering); 240 to 440 mg (for congestive heart failure) |
| TOCOTRIENOLS | 10 to 60 mg |
| MAGNESIUM | 400 mg |
| CALCIUM | 1,000 mg (before menopause); 1,500 mg (after menopause) |
| LUTEIN | 3 to 6 mg |
SELECTED REFERENCES Nygard, 0., et al.,"Plasma Homocystelne Levels and Mortality in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease, "New England Journal of Medicine, 1997; 337:230-6. Arjmandi, B.H., et al., "Whole Flaxseed Consumption Lowers Serum LDL Cholesterol and Lipoprotein(a) Concentrations in Postmenopausal Women" Nutritional Research, 1998; 18:1,203-14. Stampfer, MJ., et al., "Vitamin E Consumption and the Risk of Coronary Disease in Women" New England Journal of Medicine, 1993; 328:1,444-9. Fiset, C., et al., "Hypomagnesemia: Characterization of a Model of Sudden Cardiac Death, "Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 1996; (27): 1,771-6. Bliznakov, E.G. and Wilkins, DJ., "Biochemical and Clinical Consequences of Inhibiting Coenzyme Q10 Biosynthesis by Lipid-Lowering HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins): A Critical Overview" Advances in Therapy, 1998; 15(4): 218-26.
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