New Study at the AHA Scientific Sessions Reveals That Daily Multivitamin Does Not Prevent Heart Disease

Monday, 05 November 2012 00:00

LOS ANGELES, November 5, 2012

PCNA to Nurses: Stick to trusted strategies for heart disease prevention

A new study released today at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2012 finds that a daily multivitamin does not reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

This trial, A Randomized Trial of a Multivitamin (MVM) in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Men: The Physicians’ Health Study (PHS) II, is the first and only large-scale, long-term clinical trial examining daily multivitamin use and cardiovascular health. The trial studied 14,641 U.S. male physicians for 11.2 years to determine if taking a multivitamin would reduce their risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.

The Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA) is recommending that health care providers use this study to prove that patients need to stick to simple, proven strategies for heart disease prevention.

“We know what works for heart disease prevention – controlling blood pressure and cholesterol and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regimen. Patients should never rely on a quick fix for reducing their risk for heart disease,” says Suzanne Hughes, RN, MSN, FAHA, FPCNA, Clinical Education Project Director for the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association.

“We know that obtaining vitamins and other nutrients through healthy food choices is always best,” adds Lynne Braun, PhD, CNP, CLS, FAHA, FPCNA, FAAN, nurse practitioner at Rush University Heart & Vascular Institute and board member of the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association

PCNA recommends the following guidelines for a heart-healthy diet:

  • Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables including whole-grain and high-fiber foods.
  • Eat fish at least twice a week, preferably oily fish
  • Try to limit your sodium to 1500 mg a day
  • Avoid trans-fatty acids
  • Eat very little saturated fat, such as fat from meat, cheese, and butter
  • Eat less than 150 mg of cholesterol a day
  • Drink no more than one alcoholic drink a day

For more information about heart disease prevention strategies, visit www.pcna.net.

The full manuscript for A Randomized Trial of a Multivitamin (MVM) in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Men: The Physicians’ Health Study (PHS) II is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

###

Contact: Abby Despins, 920-606-2115, adespins@pcna.net

Related Articles