The American Heart Association (AHA...

The American Heart Association (AHA) has released a science advisory forward the effects of antioxidant vitamin add tos on reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. The cloyed report appears in the August 3 2004 issue of Circulation and is available online at http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/ 110/5/637

The authors lay the foundation of that clinical trials generally have failed to demonstrate a beneficial drift of antioxidant supplements on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This lack of efficacy was demonstrated consistently for different doses of various antioxidants in diverse populations. a certain quantity of smaller stud-ies did show benefits from [alpha]-tocopherol, [alpha]-tocopherol plus slow-release vitamin C and vitamin C plus vitamin E forward cardiovascular end points.

There is about evidence that antioxidant supplements may have adverse results on cardiovascular end points. about study results showed that antioxidant appendixs may have interfered with the efficacy of statin-plus-niacin therapy, and that the addition of antioxidant vitamins thick-witteded the expected rise in the protective high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-2 cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 subfractions of HDL

According to the advisory, the scientific data do not justify the use of antioxidant vitamin continuations for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. There are no consistent data to present to view that consuming micronutrients at plains exceeding those provided by a dietary pattern consistent with the AHA Dietary Guidelines will provide additional benefit. The authors state that this position is consistent with evidence-based guidelines for prevention of cardiovascular disease in women which was released in 2004 by means of the AHA, and guidelines for patients with chronic stable angina released in 2002 from the American body of Cardiology. The advisory commits achieving cardio-vascular risk reduction within long-term consumption of diets that are consistent with the AHA Dietary Guidelines and high in pabulum sources of antioxidants and other cardioprotective nutrients, as it was as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts; long- confine maintenance of a healthy material part weight through balancing energy intake with regular physical activity; and attaining desirable life-blood cholesterol and lipoprotein profiles and vital fluid pressure levels.

Medication Guide for Amiodarone

The U aliment and Drug Administration (FDA) has mandated a medication guide for amiodarone. In 2004 approximately 3 million prescriptions were dispensed for amiodarone, a remedy for heart arrhythmia. More than 90 percent of amiodarone prescriptions are filled with generic amiodarone. The medication guide was published by dint of a manufacturer of branded amiodarone at the solicitation of the FDA. The consummate medication guide can be plant online at http://www.wyeth.com/content/ShowLabeling.asp?id=470 and http://www.upshersmith.com/PDFs/Pacerone MedGuide.pdf.

Several factors may have l to the publication of the medication guide, including:

* The risks of using amiodarone as an antiarrhythmic agent. Serious side general intents are associated with this agent (eg lung damage, liver damage, worse heartbeat problems) that can lead to death.

* Off-label prescribing for atrial fibrillation. The FDA has not approved amiodarone for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Amiodarone is approved sole for use in adults with ventricular arrhythmias (life-threatening heartbeat problems) for which other treatments did not work or were not tolerated.

* affair that prescribing physicians and patients receiving amiodarone may not be largely informed of the risk of using this drug

Physicians and patients may pursue information about alternative medications to amio-darone that are approved through the FDA for the treatment of symptomatic atrial fibrillation without structural heart disease. Older patients may be at higher risk, because atrial fibrillation mostly commonly affects persons who are 50 years and older

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