13 June, 2003 - Vitamin E and beta carotene do not protect against heartdisease and may even be harmful, according to doctors.Previous studies have suggested these vitamins can keep arteries healthyand can protect against heart disease.

But a study by doctors in the United States has found no evidence tosupport these claims.

In fact, they found that beta carotene may actually damage health.

Study review

The findings are based on a review of 15 different studies, each involvingmore than 1,000 people, by doctors at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

They found that people who take beta carotene may slightly increase theirrisks of developing heart disease or dying early.

According to their analysis, people who took beta carotene had a 0.4%increased risk of dying early and a 0.3% increased risk of dying fromheart disease compared to those who did not take the supplement.

While these percentages are small, the doctors said they werestatistically significant.

The doctors said the findings applied to vitamin A supplements too, sincethe body converts beta carotene into vitamin A.

They found no evidence that vitamin E protected against heart disease.

Dr Marc Penn, who led the study, said the findings suggested people shouldstop taking supplements containing these vitamins.

"The use of vitamin supplements containing beta carotene and vitamin A,beta carotene's biologically active metabolite, should be activelydiscouraged because this family of agents is associated with a small butsignificant excess of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death," hesaid.

Dr Penn also urged scientists who are carrying out trials on patientsinvolving beta carotene to stop their work.

"We recommend that clinical studies of beta carotene should bediscontinued because of its risks," he said.

High doses

The findings come just weeks after the UK's Food Standards Agency issuedits own warning about the risks of taking vitamins in high doses.

It suggested that taking high levels beta-carotene and zinc over a longperiod may have irreversible harmful effects.

They also reiterated warnings that high doses of vitamin C, calcium andiron can harm health but said long-term damage can be avoided if peoplestop taking them.

The British Heart Foundation said people who stick to the recommendedvitamin doses should not be concerned.

Judy O'Sullivan, one of its cardiac nurses, said: "Several studies -including the large scale Heart Protection Study - have shown that thereis little harm in taking the 'recommended' doses of vitamin supplements.

"But we would rather emphasise, to the thousands of people who regularlytake vitamin supplements, that there is little benefit in taking them toprotect against cardiovascular disease and they should concentrate onadapting a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet."