title: Effects of antioxidant vitamins C and E on endothelial function and thrombosis/fibrinolysis system in smokers.
abstract: Smoking is associated with endothelial dysfunction and abnormalities in thrombosis/fibrinolysis system, possibly through increased oxidative stress. In this study we investigated the effect of combined antioxidant treatment with vitamins C and E on endothelial function and plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), von Willebrand factor (vWF), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and factor VII (fVII), in smokers. Forty-one healthy smokers were randomly divided into 4 groups receiving vitamin C 2g/day (group A), vitamin C 2g/day plus vitamin E 400 IU/day (group B), vitamin C 2g/day plus vitamin E 800 IU/day (group C) or no antioxidants (controls, group D), for 4 weeks. Forearm blood flow was measured using venous occlusion strain-gauge plethysmography. Forearm vasodilatory response to reactive hyperemia (RH%) or to sublingual nitroglycerin administration (NTG%) were considered as indexes of endothelium dependent or independent dilation respectively. After treatment, RH% was increased only in groups B (p <0.05) and C (p <0.001) but not in groups A and D. Plasma levels of PAI-1 and vWF were decreased only in group C (p <0.05 for both), while PAI-1/tPA ratio was significantly decreased in both groups B and C (p <0.05 for both). NTG% and plasma levels of tPA and fVII remained invariable in all groups. In conclusion, combined administration of vitamin C and vitamin E at high dosages, improved endothelial function and decreased plasma levels of PAI-1, vWF and PAI-1/tPA ratio in chronic smokers.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Hippokration Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antoniades
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tousoulis
authors.forename: Costas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tentolouris
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toutouza
authors.forename: Kyriakoula
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marinou
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goumas
authors.forename: Costas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsioufis
authors.forename: Pavlos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toutouzas
authors.forename: Christodoulos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanadis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000032:analysis; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013927:Thrombosis; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid