Fitness, Antioxidants, and Moderate Drinking: All to Lower Cardiovascular Risk

Inadequate physical activity has been recognized as an independent risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease. The cardiovascular benefits of exercise and fitness have been found in both men and women. Survival following myocardial infarction and risk of sudden death appear to significantly diminish in those individuals who follow a fitness regimen of 30 to 60 minutes of exercise, 4 to 6 times per week, with the exercise having the following endpoints of fatigue, breathlessness, and sweating. In regard to the role of antioxidants in primary and secondary prevention of coronary hear disease, this article addresses vitamins C and E and beta-carotene, with the conclusion that supplementation with beta-carotene and vitamin E, either alone or in combination, does not appear to be efficacious in either primary or secondary prevention of coronary heart disease, with the exception of patients receiving hemodialysis. Data on vitamin C are conflicting. The author recommends a good multivitamin supplement, which has been shown to reduce all-cause mortality. Finally, in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, in >8000 men free of cardiovascular disease who followed a healthy lifestyle, cardiovascular risk appeared lowest in men who reported daily alcohol consumption ranging from 5 to 30 gm, which corresponded to one half to 2 drinks.