shown to inhibit lipoprotein oxidation. The authors also state that antioxidants have additional biological effects. For example alpha tocopherol has been shown to decrease platelet adhesion, inhibit smooth-muscle cell proliferation and protein kinase C activity, and inhibit interleukin-1beta expression. With these findings, it has been concluded that both alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene can be hypothesized as affecting atherosclerosis and its resulting coronary heart disease (2:693).
The authors report that previous studies have investigated antioxidant vitamin consumption, plasma levels, and adipose tissue concentration. Studies have been mainly observational, follow-up, or case-controlled. Two controlled studies have been published regarding the effects of antioxidant vitamin supplementation of CHD. One used 50 mg of beta-carotene on alternate days and reduced major coronary events by 44 percent among physicians with a history of chronic stable angina or prior coronary revascularization. The other showed fewer deaths due to CHD among those receiving alpha-tocopherol vitamins (2:693-694).
"Serum antioxidants and myocardial infarction. Are low levels of carotenoids and alpha-tocopherol risk factors for myocardial infarction" by Street, Comstock, Salkeld, Schuep, and Klag (1994) reports again regarding the important role of antioxidants in the inhibition of atherosclerosis and resulting complications such as myocardial infarction. These authors state that alpha-tocopherol (at high oxygen concentrations) and beta-carotene (at low oxygen concentrations) can trap free radicals by breaking the chain reaction of lipid peroxidation. Beta-carotene and other carotenoids in serum can also quench singlet oxygen, a potential lipid peroxidation initiator. This study investigated prediagnostic serum levels of carotenoids and alpha-tocopherol in cases of myocardial infarction.
"An investigation of the relationship between an...