| abstract |
The present invention pertains generally to the field of Public Health, including the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease which is currently the first cause of death in the American population. More specifically, the present invention concerns a total modular system of multivitamin and mineral supplementation composed of 7 distinct modules for improving public health by insuring adequate intake of micronutrients needed for disease prevention and protection against nutritional losses and deficiencies due to, for example, lifestyle factors and common inadequate dietary patterns. A module, as used herein throughout, is defined as a separate and distinct combination of vitamin-mineral and other health promoting compounds which are directed to specific target populations. The formulations of the present invention which, when combined in one capsule or tablet or as separate modules, exert a joint and enhancing effect on the major pathogenetic factors involved in the atherosclerotic process. Moreover, certain modular formulations of the present invention incorporate both antioxidants and acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) as a single preventive modality. Such a combination of antioxidants and aspirin is believed to act to prevent oxidation of low density lipoproteins within coronary arterial walls and to cause platelet deagluttination thereby inhibiting thrombus formation. The benefit of preventing these two major processes is believed to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. |