Issue date: Nov. 20-22, 1998
In this article:
Sources for this column
Vitamin C to the rescue
 new look at the blood of 6,600 Americans found that those with the highest levels of
vitamin C were about one-fourth less apt to suffer a heart attack or stroke than
those with the lowest levels. Low blood levels of antioxidants, including vitamin C,
are a major unrecognized risk in cardiovascular disease, said study author Joel A.
Simon, M.D., San Francisco VA Hospital. Vitamin C improves blood vessels and helps
block toxic effects of bad LDL cholesterol. The optimal dose is unclear, but research
shows 500-1,000mg of vitamin C daily can dramatically improve blood vessels.Heart diet also anti-cancer
 ost experts agree that the "Mediterranean Diet" helps prevent heart
disease. Now strong evidence suggests it may also intervene in the cancer process. In
a study of 605 subjects, French scientists have found a 61 percent drop in cancer
deaths in only four years among those eating a Mediterranean-type diet, compared with
"control" subjects eating an ordinary diet. Those on the Med diet ate twice as many
legumes, 10 percent more vegetables, 24 percent more fruit, 33 percent less meat, 83
percent less butter and cream and 18 percent more fish. They ate 20 percent less
saturated animal fat and 43 percent more olive oil-type fat.
Next week: Two new heart-healthy tactics.
SCIENTIFIC SOURCES FOR THIS COLUMN
Vitamin C and heart attacks/stroke
Simon, J.A, et al. Epidemiology, 1998; 9:316-321
Mediterranean diet
deLorgeril M., et al. Arch Intern Med 1998; 158:1181-7
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