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Antioxidant Selenium Offers No Major Protection against Heart-Disease

by Medindia Content Team on Apr 26 2006 8:31 PM

Selenium does not offer protection against cardiovascular disease, despite the lofty claims of its antioxidant and chemopreventive properties, a recent trial has shown. The findings of the trial have been published in the April 15th issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Selenium now joins the club of several antioxidants, vitamins C and E in particular, that were praised for its role in preventing heart disease, though the outcome after the trial has proved the contrary.

1,004 participants took part in the study conducted from 1983-96, who were having no symptoms of cardiovascular disease when they were enrolled into the trial. Enrollees were randomly asked to take a tablet containing 200 micrograms of selenium daily or a placebo. The related data on sociodemographics, health habits, education and body mass index also was collected.

The Participants were tracked for nearly 7.6 years on an average, that also included providing blood samples at diagnostic centers twice a year and reporting any new illnesses or medications. The results did not show any link between selenium supplements and coronary heart disease, stroke or even death from it. The trial showed no overall benefit of supplementation by selenium alone in prevention of cardiovascular disease.


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