Preventing CAD through diet

With regard to preventing coronary artery disease (CAD), what are the dietary recommendations and alternatives for omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and coenzymes? Are they effective?
—Elissa Internicola Lebow, PA-C, Staten Island, N.Y.

An adequate answer to your question would require more space than is available in this forum. However, studies validate that moderate supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidant combinations may be beneficial in cardiac event reduction. For more specific listings and amounts of this lengthy list of compounds, I recommend an older but still accurate comprehensive review by Adams, Wermuth, and McBride, “Antioxidant vitamins and the prevention of coronary heart disease” (Am Fam Physician. 1999;60:895-904). The authors report that supplementation with antioxidant vitamins E and C has benefits in CHD prevention. Supplementation with beta-carotene, however, may have deleterious effects and is not recommended.
—Sherril Sego, MSN, FNP (109-10)