Plasma vitamins C and E levels inversely correlate with the risk of ischaemic heart diseases in patients from Imo state, Nigeria

Sixty-six Nigerian patients with ischaemic heart diseases age ranging between 50 -75 years were studied. The samples consisted of 42 cases with angina pectoris and 24 cases with myocardial infarction, which were proven to suffer from ischaemic heart disease by the presence of clinical symptoms, exercise electrocardiogram abnormalities and myocardial enzyme measurement. Controls were 36 subjects who did not show any abnormalities in the parameters used. Controls and patients were classified into groups based on the presence or absence of risk factors (smoking, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, obesity and family history). The mean plasma concentrations of vitamins C and E were significantly inversely related to the risks of ischaemic heart disease. Smoking was a compounding factor. These findings suggest that some populations with high incidence of ischaemic heart disease may benefit from eating diets rich in natural antioxidants, particularly vitamins E and C.