Science File / An exploration of issues and trends affecting science, medicine and the environment. : Vitamin E May Lessen Risk of Heart Disease, Researchers Say

New research at USC adds to the evidence that taking Vitamin E can reduce the risk of heart disease. In a study of 156 men with heart disease, researchers found that taking daily doses of Vitamin E for two years appeared to slow the development of fatty deposits, or plaque, in coronary arteries.

“It’s hard to say that it’s preventive--that’s what we hope is going to be the bottom line,” said Dr. Howard Hodis, director of USC’s Atherosclerosis Research Unit, whose study appears in Wednesday’s Journal of the American Medical Assn.

In the study, men who took 100 to 450 units of Vitamin E a day had less plaque buildup than those who took lower doses.

Compiled from Times wire and staff reports.