29 June 2012
According to a new Iranian study, vitamin C and E supplements may protect against increased oxidative stress in women taking oral contraceptives.
In the randomized controlled trial that lasted four weeks, 120 healthy women were divided into three groups: those taking contraceptives only (0.03 mg ethinylestradiol and 0.15 mg levonorgestrel), those taking contra-ceptives plus vitamin C and E supplements (150mg and 200 IU respectively), and those taking a placebo (1). An analysis of blood samples showed that participants who only took contraceptives experienced increased levels of a marker of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde), while antioxidant enzyme activity (glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase) decreased. Taking additional supplements of vitamins C and E significantly increased enzyme activity and reduced plasma levels of the oxidative stress marker.
The researchers commented that low-dose oral contraceptives may potentially present a cardiovascular risk by enhancing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. The use of vitamins E and C may therefore be bene-ficial in reducing this side effect of oral contraceptives. However, larger intervention studies would be necessary to confirm these results.
15 July 2011
Using vitamin E supplements for a long time may be associated with a risk reduction of the motor neurone disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a pooled analysis from the USA of data from five prospective cohort studies suggests.
19 November 2013
According to a new US study, the sperm of men who have an adequate intake of beta-carotene, lycopene and lutein shows improved motility and fewer defects.
6 June 2014
A new US study says that increased intakes of vitamin C by women who smoke during pregnancy seem to improve measures of lung function for their newborns and decrease the incidence of wheezing for their infants through one year.
