Improvement of early functional atherosclerotic changes in males with hypercholesterolemia after vitamin E supplementation.
Vitamin E as an antioxidant vitamin reduces the susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol to oxidation and may have antiatherosclerotic effects. We tested the hypothesis that six months of 400 mg vitamin E supplementation favourably affects early functional changes in atherosclerotic process in subjects with hypercholesterolemia. The diameter of the brachial artery at rest, after reactive hyperemia (representing endothelium-dependent vasodilatation) and after sublingual glyceryl-trinitrate (representing endothelium-independent vasodilatation), were determined by ultrasonographic method (B mode) before and after the intervention period. After the intervention period the brachial endothelium-dependent vasodilatation increased significantly in the vitamin E group while it did not change in the placebo group. In conclusion, six months of oral vitamin E supplementation results in improvement of the endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in men with hypercholesterolemia.
Borovnicar
A
A
Lek Pharmaceutical and Chemical Company d.d., Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Keber
I
I
Stavljenić Rukavina
A
A
Yaletel Kragelj
L
L
D000328:Adult; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications*; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D014810:Vitamin E; D005996:Nitroglycerin