It is very important to note that these studies were done with vitamin supplements. That is, people were taking or given vitamin pills. It is not necessarily the vitamins that failed to show benefits, but it is the vitamin supplements that failed to show any benefits. It is well known that people who eat more fruits and vegetables have less risk of heart disease and cancers, as well as many other diseases. Eating more fruits and vegetables is almost guaranteed to help your health.
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2003
The Lancet Volume 361, Number 9374, June 14, 2003
Antioxidant vitamins in prevention of cardiovascular disease: meta-analysis of randomised trials
'The lack of a salutary effect was seen consistently for various doses of vitamins in diverse populations'

Supplementation with tocopherol (vitamin E) and ß carotene (vitamin A), or both, in observational studies, but not clinical trials, has been suggested to inhibit the atherogenic process. Deepak Vivekananthan and colleagues did a meta-analysis of randomised trials of these two compounds to assess their effect on long-term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Vitamin E provided no benefit in overall mortality, cardiovascular death, or cerebrovascular accident (stroke). ßcarotene led to a small but significant increase in all-cause death, and a small increase in cardiovascular death. The researchers find the ß carotene results especially concerning since the doses that produced this effect were within the range commonly used in over-the-counter preparations. The investigators also do not recommend the routine use of vitamin E to reduce cardiovascular risk.
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2002
JAMA Vol. 288 No. 19, November 20, 2002
Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy and Antioxidant Vitamin Supplements on Coronary Atherosclerosis in Postmenopausal Women

In yet another study of antioxidant vitamins, no benefit was found in a group of over 400 postmenopausal women. Each woman had narrowing of the coronary arteries demonstrated by angiography and was given 800 IU of vitamin E and 1000 mg of vitamin C for almost three years.
There actually was a trend to more arterial blockage with the vitamin treatment, but it was not statistically meaningful. Deaths and heart attacks were also somewhat increased in the group taking vitamins.
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2002
Arch Intern Med. 2002;162:1472-1476
Vitamin Supplementation Use in a Low-Risk Population of US Male Physicians and Subsequent Cardiovascular Mortality

This prospective cohort study was conducted among 83,639 male physicians residing in the United States who had no history of cardiovascular disease or cancer. At baseline, data on use of vitamin E, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and multivitamin supplements were provided by a self-administered questionnaire.
Use of supplements was reported by 29% (24,255) of the participants. During a mean follow-up of 5.5 years, 1037 cardiovascular disease deaths occurred, including 608 coronary heart disease deaths (58.6% of all deaths). After adjustment for several cardiovascular risk factors, supplement use was not significantly associated with total cardiovascular disease or coronary heart disease deaths.
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2002
Lancet 2002; 360: 23-33
MRC/BHF Heart Protection Study of antioxidant vitamin supplementation in 20,536 high-risk individuals: a randomised placebo-controlled trial

Antioxidant vitamin supplements of 600 mg vitamin E, 250 mg vitamin C and 20 mg beta-carotene daily for five years were studied in patients at high risk of vascular disease. No significant benefits were observed among the high-risk patients who took part in the Heart Protection Study (HPS).
No significant differences were found in all-cause mortality, or in deaths due to vascular or non-vascular causes, non-fatal myocardial infarction or coronary death, non-fatal or fatal stroke, or coronary or non-coronary revascularisation. In addition, there were no significant effects on cancer incidence or on hospitalisation for any other non-vascular cause.
The clinicians conclude that, instead of vitamin supplementation, emphasis should be on treatments such as aspirin, statins, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Inhibitors), beta-blockers, and antihypertensive therapy. This should be allied with behavioral changes, such as increasing physical activity and, particularly, stopping smoking, "that are definitely known to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other adverse outcomes."
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2001
N Engl J Med 2001; 345:1583-1592
Simvastatin and Niacin, Antioxidant Vitamins, or the Combination for the Prevention of Coronary Disease

One-hundred sixty people with heart disease were given either placebo, antioxidants (vitamins E, C, beta-carotene, and selenium), Zocor + niacin or antioxidants + Zocor + niacin. Rates of heart attack and stroke were lowest in people taking Zocor + niacin. People on Zocor + Niacin actually had their blockages "shrink". People on antioxidants + Zocor + niacin had more heart attacks, stokes and their blockages continued to grow. This suggests that the antioxidants decreased the effectiveness of the Zocor and niacin. The antioxidant group had no statistical benefit compared to the placebo group.
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2001
International Journal of Clinical Practice 2001; 56:53
The Heart Protection Study

Over 20,000 people at high risk for heart disease were given vitamin E, C and beta-carotene (your body turns beta-carotene into vitamin A) or a placebo for 6 years. There were no differences in heart attack rates. "There was no evidence whatsoever of a beneficial effect of antioxidant vitamin therapy..."
People in this study who recieved Zocor 40mg, and no antioxidants, had a 27% desrease in the number of strokes. Even people with an LDL of less than 100 before starting the Zocor had this benefit.
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2001
The Lancet January 13, 2001; 357:89-95
Low-dose aspirin and vitamin E in people at cardiovascular risk: a randomised trial in general practice

4,500 people at high risk for heart disease were given vitamin E daily for 4 years. Vitamin E had no effect on heart attacks. People who were given a 100mg aspirin decreased the risk of heart attack by 44%.
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2000
New England Journal of Medicine 2000; 342:154-160, Jan 20, 2000
Vitamin E Supplementation and Cardiovascular Events in High-Risk Patients

In the HOPE (Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation) Study, 9,500 people with either cardiovascurlar disease or diabetes were given vitamin E or a placebo daily for 5 years. There was no difference in heart attack rates.
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1999
The Lancet August 7, 1999; 354:447-55
Dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E after myocardial infarction: results of the GISSI-Prevenzione trial

After their heart attack, 11,000 people were given vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acid, both or a placebo for 4 years. There was no difference between vitamin E and placebo in heart attack rates.
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1997-98
The Lancet June 14, 1997; 349:1715-20
Randomised trial of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene supplements on incidence of major coronary events in men with previous myocardial infarction

Alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), beta-carotene (vitamin A)
There was no significant difference in the rates of heart attacks.
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Archives of Internal Medicine 1998; 158:668-675
Effect of Vitamin E and Beta Carotene on the Incidence of Primary Nonfatal Myocardial Infarction and Fatal Coronary Heart Disease

Of the men who had a heart attack prior to starting the study, the ones who took beta-carotene were possibly more likely to die of heart disease during the study.

29,000 male smokers were given vitamin E, beta-carotene, both or a placebo daily for 5 to 8 years
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1997
New England Journal of Medicine August 7, 1997; 337:365-372
Probucol and Multivitamins in the Prevention of Restenosis after Coronary Angioplasty

317 people who were having an angioplasty were given either antioxidants (vitamin E, C and beta-carotene) the drug probucol (an older, weak cholesterol lowering medicine and antioxidant), both antioxidants & probucol, or placebo. The probucol group were least likely to have the angioplasty site close up. The combination of antioxidants and probucol were less effective than probucol alone.
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It is very important to note that these studies were done with vitamin supplements. That is, people were taking or given vitamin pills. It is not necessarily the vitamins that failed to show benefits, but it is the vitamin supplements that failed to show any benefits. It is well known that people who eat more fruits and vegetables have less risk of heart disease and cancers, as well as many other diseases. Eating more fruits and vegetables is almost guaranteed to help your health.