title: Vitamin E supplementation reduces plasma vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and von Willebrand factor levels and increases nitric oxide concentrations in hypercholesterolemic patients.
abstract: Up-regulation of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and reduced nitric oxide (NO) availability represent early characteristics of atherosclerosis. To evaluate whether the antioxidant vitamin E affected the circulating levels of soluble VCAM-1 (sVCAM-1) and the plasma metabolite of NO (nitrite+nitrate) in hypercholesterolemic patients, either vitamin E (either 400 IU or 800 IU/d for 8 wk) or placebo were randomly, double-blindly given to 36 hypercholesterolemic patients and 22 age- and sex-matched controls. At baseline hypercholesterolemic patients showed higher plasma sVCAM-1 (microg.liter(-1)) (591.2 +/- 132.5 vs. 505.0 +/- 65.6, P < 0.007) and lower NO metabolite (microM) levels (15.9 +/- 3.4 vs. 29.2 +/- 5.1, P < 0.0001) than controls. In hypercholesterolemic patients, 8 wk vitamin E (but not placebo) treatment significantly decreased circulating sVCAM-1 levels (400 IU: -148.9 +/- 84.6, P < 0.009; 800 IU: -204.0 +/- 75.7, P < 0.0001; placebo: -4.7 +/- 22.6, NS), whereas it increased NO metabolite concentrations (400 IU: +4.0 +/- 1.7, P < 0.02; 800 IU: +5.5 +/- 0.8, P < 0.0001; placebo: +0.1 +/- 1.1, NS) without affecting circulating low- density lipoprotein levels. Changes in both plasma sVCAM-1 and NO metabolite levels showed a trend to significantly correlate (r = -0.515, P = 0.010; and r = 0.435, P = 0.034, respectively) with changes in vitamin E concentrations induced by vitamin E supplementation. In conclusion, isolated hypercholesterolemia both increased circulating sVCAM-1 and reduced NO metabolite concentrations. Vitamin E supplementation counteracts these alterations, thus representing a potential tool for endothelial protection in hypercholesterolemic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health, University of L'Aquila, Blocco 11, Via Vetoio, 67100 Coppito-L'Aquila, Italy. gbdesi@iol.it
authors.forename: Giovambattista
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Desideri
authors.forename: Maria Contina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marinucci
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tomassoni
authors.forename: Pier Giorgio
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Masci
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santucci
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012016:Reference Values; D012995:Solubility; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D014810:Vitamin E; D009569:Nitric Oxide