[Can antioxidants prevent atherosclerosis?].
In vitro studies have shown that antioxidants (e. g. beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E) can interfere with some pathomechanisms of atherosclerosis and therefore might have a protective effect. From the investigated antioxidants vitamin E showed the best effect. Some animal and epidemiological studies confirmed such a protective effect in vivo especially after administration of high doses of vitamin E. However, most of the placebo-controlled studies for primary or secondary prevention failed to show a protective effect even after administration of high doses. In addition, other studies demonstrated a risk for adverse effects due to antioxidant supplementation (beta-carotene and vitamin E). Our review summarises the principle of antioxidant supplementation and a number of relevant epidemiological and clinical studies for prevention of atherosclerosis. The obtained results suggest that supplementation of antioxidants cannot be recommended for the normal population.
Siekmeier
R
R
Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte (BfArM), Kurt-Georg-Kiesinger-Allee 3, 53175 Bonn, BRD. r.siekmeier@bfarm.de
Steffen
C
C
März
W
W
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D016877:Oxidants / Q000502:physiology; D011322:Primary Prevention; D011341:Probucol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D016877:Oxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014815:Vitamins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D011341:Probucol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D024505:Tocopherols