Vitamins could actually increase levels of "bad cholesterol". This is the conclusion of recent researches. Even if we thought that vitamins could protect the heart, New York University researchers found out that vitamins including E, C and beta carotene stop the liver breaking down an early form of bad cholesterol.
Vitamins are antioxidants. They are thought to be beneficial because they attack free radicals, which inflict damage on the bodys tissues. However, the researchers at the universitys school of medicine found that antioxidants actually diminished the bodys fight against damaging cholesterol. In normal conditions, liver cells break down a key protein in harmful lipoproteins such as very low-density lipoprotein, which means they cannot be converted into a form of LDL that can enter the bloodstream. The New York researchers found, through laboratory tests, that vitamin E, C and beta carotene prevented this process from taking place in liver cells.
Further tests on mice and rat livers showed vitamin E prevented this "breakdown" process-taking place. The liver simply destroyed fewer lipoproteins. This is the reason why researchers came to the conclusion that it does appear that antioxidant vitamins may be harmful for the heart based on their ability to increase the secretion of very low-density lipoprotein in the liver cells of the mice that they studied.
Are you looking to find the best vitamins and minerals. Come take a look at our site for the best free information.
Vitamins