by Jackie Hart, MD
Q: Can aspirin and vitamin E be taken together for prevention of heart attack and stroke? If they can, how much of each? I am concerned that taking the two together will thin the blood too much.
A: Aspirin and vitamin E are commonly used for both primary and secondary prevention of heart disease and stroke. Primary prevention refers to taking steps to avoid a heart attack or stroke before it occurs; secondary prevention refers to preventive measures taken after a heart attack or stroke to avoid recurrence of another event. Although aspirin and vitamin E are used in both types of prevention, they function differently from each other.
Aspirin works by inhibiting the build-up (or aggregation) of platelets, elements which flow freely in your blood stream. Sometimes, the aggregation of platelets may lead to the formation of blood clots, which blocks blood flow in the wall of a blood vessel and may result in heart attack or stroke.
Vitamin E works in the blood by actually competing with ? and sometimes displacing - vitamin K, the vitamin best known for helping our blood to clot. More recent studies have suggested that vitamin E seems to block both adherence and aggregation of platelets ? two steps in the process of blood clot formation. Therefore, people who regularly take vitamin E for long periods of time may also be less at risk for blood clots.
Studies which tested the use of both aspirin and vitamin E seem to show that they are safe to take together, despite the possible overlap in their effect on platelets. In fact, some research done to date suggests that using the two together may actually give an added protection against stroke or heart attack ? vitamin E and aspirin may enhance the effects of each other.
One caution: If you are taking a medication known as an oral anti-coagulant (trade name: Coumadin; generic name: warfarin) you may want to avoid vitamin E. The purpose of oral anti-coagulants is to ?thin the blood?; however, an oral anti-coagulant is used with other substances that also thin the blood (notably foods containing high levels of vitamin K, such as green tea, green leafy vegetables, or vitamin E or other supplements) the blood may be thinned too much. Check with your physician about your diet and supplement use if this type of medication is prescribed.
Recommended Doses:
To achieve the anti-platelet effects of aspirin, it has been shown that only 50-80 mg (milligrams) per day is required, so I generally recommend one baby aspirin (81 mg) either every day or every other day. To achieve many of the benefits of vitamin E, 400-800 IU (International Units) per day seems to be the best range. Studies that have looked at heart disease prevention specifically have often used 400 IU.
One tip: youll get the best effect from your vitamin E supplement if you take it with a meal. Since vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin, it is absorbed more easily with food.
As always, it is important to discuss with your doctor the dosage of vitamin E and/or aspirin that is best for you; certain medical conditions may warrant a higher or lower dose ? and some conditions ? such as bleeding disorders ? may preclude you from using either of these substances.
Q: Can aspirin and vitamin E be taken together for prevention of heart attack and stroke? If they can, how much of each? I am concerned that taking the two together will thin the blood too much.
A: Aspirin and vitamin E are commonly used for both primary and secondary prevention of heart disease and stroke. Primary prevention refers to taking steps to avoid a heart attack or stroke before it occurs; secondary prevention refers to preventive measures taken after a heart attack or stroke to avoid recurrence of another event. Although aspirin and vitamin E are used in both types of prevention, they function differently from each other.
Aspirin works by inhibiting the build-up (or aggregation) of platelets, elements which flow freely in your blood stream. Sometimes, the aggregation of platelets may lead to the formation of blood clots, which blocks blood flow in the wall of a blood vessel and may result in heart attack or stroke.
Vitamin E works in the blood by actually competing with ? and sometimes displacing - vitamin K, the vitamin best known for helping our blood to clot. More recent studies have suggested that vitamin E seems to block both adherence and aggregation of platelets ? two steps in the process of blood clot formation. Therefore, people who regularly take vitamin E for long periods of time may also be less at risk for blood clots.
Studies which tested the use of both aspirin and vitamin E seem to show that they are safe to take together, despite the possible overlap in their effect on platelets. In fact, some research done to date suggests that using the two together may actually give an added protection against stroke or heart attack ? vitamin E and aspirin may enhance the effects of each other.
One caution: If you are taking a medication known as an oral anti-coagulant (trade name: Coumadin; generic name: warfarin) you may want to avoid vitamin E. The purpose of oral anti-coagulants is to ?thin the blood?; however, an oral anti-coagulant is used with other substances that also thin the blood (notably foods containing high levels of vitamin K, such as green tea, green leafy vegetables, or vitamin E or other supplements) the blood may be thinned too much. Check with your physician about your diet and supplement use if this type of medication is prescribed.
Recommended Doses:
To achieve the anti-platelet effects of aspirin, it has been shown that only 50-80 mg (milligrams) per day is required, so I generally recommend one baby aspirin (81 mg) either every day or every other day. To achieve many of the benefits of vitamin E, 400-800 IU (International Units) per day seems to be the best range. Studies that have looked at heart disease prevention specifically have often used 400 IU.
One tip: youll get the best effect from your vitamin E supplement if you take it with a meal. Since vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin, it is absorbed more easily with food.
As always, it is important to discuss with your doctor the dosage of vitamin E and/or aspirin that is best for you; certain medical conditions may warrant a higher or lower dose ? and some conditions ? such as bleeding disorders ? may preclude you from using either of these substances.