Effect of antioxidant vitamin E as a protective factor in experimental atherosclerosis in rhesus monkeys.
Atherosclerosis has been known for many years, yet its etiology remains unknown. Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. The mechanism by which it triggers endothelial injury is not known. Since the role of the antioxidant vitamin E on experimental atherosclerosis is inconsistent, the present study was undertaken to evaluate platelet lipid peroxidation and the role of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) as protective factor in atherosclerosis in rhesus monkeys. A significant decrease in serum cholesterol and serum triglyceride levels was found in the group of animals which were reverted to stock diet along with vitamin E injections after 9 months of atherogenic diet feeding. Decreases in malonyldialdehyde levels and antioxidant enzyme activities were less significant in animals continued on an atherogenic diet feeding along with vitamin E as compared with animals fed a stock diet with vitamin E supplementation. The overall observations in this study suggest that antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation could be partly restored with vitamin E supplementation in experimental atherosclerosis. Damage to endothelial cells destroys their antithrombotic status and leads to fatal thrombosis. alpha-Tocopherol offers the best hope, but the question is how much of it should be administered for the prevention of atherosclerosis.
Sharma
N
N
Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Desigan
B
B
Ghosh
S
S
Sanyal
S N
SN
Ganguly
N K
NK
Majumdar
S
S
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D014280:Triglycerides; D014810:Vitamin E; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002784:Cholesterol; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase