[The role of antioxidants in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases].
The potential role of natural antioxidants (vitamin C--ascorbic acid, vitamin E--tocopherols, carotenoids and selenium) in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases is reviewed. It is probable that free oxygen radicals and oxidatively modified particles of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) participate in the development of atherosclerotic lesions. A great number of experimental, cross-sectional, retrospective and prospective epidemiological studies found a substantial increase of the risk of ischemic heart disease and stroke in individuals and populations with low intake of antioxidants from diet. Extremely high cardiovascular mortality in Slovakia and other postcommunist countries could be only partially explained by "classical" risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and smoking). In the communist European countries there was a high consumption of spirits, cigarettes and salt, polluted environment and low consumption of the chief source of antioxidants--fruits. In these countries emphasis should be given to the prevention of antioxidant deficiencies by the increase of fruit and vegetable consumption, and to the decrease in salt, spirit, cigarettes and saturated fat consumption.
Ginter
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Ustav preventívnej a klinickej medicíny v Bratislave, Slovakia.
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans
D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals
Uloha antioxidantov v prevencii kardiovaskulárnych ochorení.