The study involved 75 people. They were divided into three groups, type 2 diabetics with heart disease, type 2 diabetics without heart disease and non-diabetics. All three groups were given 1200 IU of vitamin E daily for three months. The study participants had blood tests taken before the start of the study and at the end to measure for the levels of CRP in the blood. CRP, or C-reactive protein, is a predictor of cardiovascular disease.
High levels indicate a high risk for heart disease.
Researchers found the vitamin E reduced the levels of CRP by 30 percent in all three groups. Lead author of the study, Ishwarlal Jialal, M.D., says this suggests vitamin E may be another tool to help reduce cardiovascular disease both in diabetics and non-diabetics. He says it works by getting into the cells of the body that contribute to plaque like the white blood cells, smooth muscle cells and stopping the growth of plaque at the source. In addition to lowering the levels of CRP, vitamin E also reduced inflammation, a cause of the heart problems in type 2 diabetics. He says the vitamin E could interfere with the medication's effectiveness.