Cooper Complete Study Results

Multivitamin Reduces Risks Associated with CHD

DALLAS — A study published in the current edition of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition (October, 2003), shows new evidence that a 24-ingredient multivitamin can significantly reduce LDL cholesterol oxidation and homocysteine levels, two risk factors associated with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Homocysteine, the "cholesterol of the 21st century," is a common amino acid found in the blood acquired mostly from eating meat and dairy products. High levels are related to early development of heart and blood vessel disease, and are considered an independent risk factor for heart disease. Elevated homocysteine is also related to colon cancer, stroke and Alzheimer's disease and is associated with low levels of vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid.

When unstable oxygen molecules called free radicals damage LDL cholesterol, they are more likely to stick to artery walls and contribute to arteriosclerosis, so improving resistance to "oxidation" is an important step in lowering disease risk.

The randomized, double-blinded and placebo-controlled study titled, "Complex Multivitamin Supplementation Improves Homocysteine and Resistance to LDL-C Oxidation," headed by principal investigator Conrad Earnest, Ph.D., and colleagues concluded that after six months of vitamin supplementation participants experienced a decrease in homocysteine levels by 17 percent, and a reduction in LDL cholesterol oxidation by 14 percent.

The multivitamin used in the study was the Cooper Complete brand developed by Kenneth Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., founder of The Cooper Institute in Dallas where the study took place in conjunction with Tufts University and The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Cooper created Cooper Complete multivitamins specifically to research the role, if any, that vitamins and minerals have in the maintenance of health and disease prevention.

Earnest cautions that not all multivitamins will give the same results.

"Independent consumer advocacy laboratories show that reported vitamin concentration in some products varies widely and is often less than advertised label claims, so consumers must take purported health benefits somewhat on faith, rather than clinical evidence," says Earnest, director of the Center for Human Performance and Nutrition Research at The Cooper Institute. "We feel the best solution is to validate the efficacy of individual products directly with research."

To view the full study and find out more about preventing CHD click here.

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