Vitamins E and A in vascular diseases.
The major pathogenetic factors of the atherosclerotic diseases are: a) vasal endothelium distress; b) rheological disturbs; c) alterations in plasma lipid pattern; d) dietary intake of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids; e) alteration of mitochondrial and microsomal membranes; f) vascular injury induced by immune complexes; g) increased lipid peroxidations. Many well documented reports state a positive effect of vitamins A and E on some of the factors previously considered. Vitamins A and E have an endothelium-protective activity and an antiperoxidative effect; they act as antiaggregant factors, affect O2 transport and utilization processes, increase HDL-cholesterol, potentiate the hypolipidemic action of the nicotinic acid.
D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy; D009540:Nicotinyl Alcohol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D004041:Dietary Fats; D014280:Triglycerides; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002784:Cholesterol; D009540:Nicotinyl Alcohol