title: Effects of combined administration of vitamins C and E on reactive hyperemia and inflammatory process in chronic smokers.
abstract: Purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of combined administration of antioxidant vitamins C and E on endothelial function and serum levels of inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukines 1b (IL-1b) and 6 (IL-6), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin in chronic smokers. Forty-three smokers were randomly divided into four groups receiving vitamin C 2 g/day (group A), vitamin C 2 g/day plus vitamin E 400 IU/day (group B), vitamin C 2 g/day plus vitamin E 800 IU/day (group C) or no antioxidant treatment (group D), for 4 weeks. Forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured using venous occlusion strain gauge plethysmography. Forearm vasodilatory response to reactive hyperemia (RH%) was expressed as the percentage change from baseline to post reactive hyperemia blood flow. RH% was significantly increased in groups B (P<0.05) and C (P<0.01), but remained unaffected in groups A and D. Serum levels of IL-1b, IL-6, sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 were significantly reduced in group C (P<0.05, respectively), but remained unaffected in groups A, B and D. Thus, short term administration of vitamins C (2 g/day) and E (800 IU/day) reduces serum levels of IL-1b, IL-6, sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1, and improves forearm vasodilatory response to reactive hyperemia in healthy young smokers, while monotherapy with vitamin C alone is ineffective.
authors: Cardiology Unit, Hippokration Hospital, Athens University Medical School, 69 S. Karagiorga, 16675 Glifada, Athens, Greece. tousouli@med.uoa.gr
authors: Dimitris
authors: D
authors: Tousoulis
authors: Charalambos
authors: C
authors: Antoniades
authors: Costas
authors: C
authors: Tentolouris
authors: Costas
authors: C
authors: Tsioufis
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Toutouza
authors: Pavlos
authors: P
authors: Toutouzas
authors: Christodoulos
authors: C
authors: Stefanadis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010991:Plethysmography; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014664:Vasodilation; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid