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# Antioxidants prevent myocardial infarction
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/antioxidants-prevent-myocardial-infarction/
- Published: 2012-10-03T13:47:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:05:13.000Z
- Description: Among 32,561 Swedish women aged 49 to 83, those in the highest quintile of total dietary antioxidant capacity were 20 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack than those in the lowest. Researchers counted 1,114 heart attacks over the decade of follow-up.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Nutrition, #vivvo-import

By Jimmy Downs

Wednesday Oct 3, 2012 ([foodconsumer.org](http://www.foodconsumer.org/)) -- A new study in the American Journal of Medicine suggests that maintaining a high level of dietary antioxidant capacity may help reduce risk of myocardial infarction or heart attack in middle-aged and elderly women.

The study led by Susanne Rautiainen, MSc of karolinska Institutet in Sweden and colleagues found women who had highest total dietary antioxidant capacity were 20 percent less likely to suffer myocardial infarction, compared to those having a low level.

The study was based on data from the population-based prospective Swedish Mammography Cohort of 32,561 women aged 49-83 years who were cardiovascular disease-free at baseline. During the follow-up between Sept 1997 and Dec 2007, 1114 incident cases of myocardial infarction were identified.

The researchers found women in the highest quintile of total dietary antioxidant capacity were at 20 percent reduced risk for myocardial infarction, compared to those in the lowest quintile.

Additionally, they found the number of servings of fruit and vegetables and whole grains were inversely, but insignificantly correlated with myocardial infarction.

It was concluded that "These data suggest that dietary total antioxidant capacity, based on fruits, vegetables, coffee, and whole grains, is of importance in the prevention of myocardial infarction."

This is not a clinical trial so the result indicates only a possiblity that using antioxidants can reduce risk of myocardial infarction. Buy many other studies also have shown the similar results, meaning that the possibility is great.

Vitamin C ,vitamin E, selenium, and lots of other phytochemicals that are found in vegetables like legumes are the sources of antioxidants. Antioxidants are extremely important in preventing all types of chronic diseases and possibly also infections.

Antioxidants are largely present in plant-based foods. They are also available as dietary supplements. Make sure to buy and use those with no or minimal additives or fillers if you would like to use dietary supplemental antioxidants.