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Supplementing the diet with antioxidant vitamins and minerals appeared to reduce the beneficial effects of certain cholesterol-lowering drugs. The findings suggested that patients with coronary artery disease who are taking Zocor and niacin may reduce the intake of supplements containing vitamins C , E, beta-carotene and selenium.

Patients who took a "cocktail" of these four antioxidants along with Zocor and niacin had smaller increases in HDL ("good") cholesterol levels over a one-year period, compared with patients who took the medications alone, the investigators realised. Zocor and niacin have been shown to reduce total cholesterol and LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels while boosting levels of HDL, which helped to cut the risk of heart disease.

After one year, patients on Zocor and niacin alone saw their HDL increase by an average of 25 per cent, while HDL levels rose by an average of 18 percent among patients on the medications and antioxidants.

The Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology (August 2001;21:1253, 1319-1325) noted that the HDL component responsible for most of its protective effects increased by an average of 42 percent with medication, but remained unchanged among patients who added the antioxidant cocktail.

Information provided is courtesy of and compiled by the Academy of Anti-Aging Research.