The antioxidant hypothesis of cardiovascular disease: epidemiology and mechanisms

Abstract

Plasma levels of major essential antioxidants were determined in representative random samples of middle-aged men from 16 European study populations which differed up to 6-fold in age-specific mortality from ischaemic heart disease (IHD). In 12 study populations having total plasma cholesterol in the medium range (5.7-6.2 mmol/l) and usual blood pressure, both these classical risk factors lacked a significant correlation to IHD mortality, whereas the absolute level of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) showed a strong inverse correlation (r2 = 0.63, P = 0.002). On evaluation of all study populations, cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure had a moderate direct association with IHD, but their importance still remained inferior to that of vitamin E as an inversely associated, presumably protective factor. In stepwise regression and multiple regression analysis, the IHD mortality of the study populations was predictable to 62% by lipid-standardized vitamin E, to 79% by vitamin E and total cholesterol, to 83% after inclusion of lipid-standardized vitamin A (retinol) and to 87% by all the above parameters plus diastolic blood pressure. In conclusion, in the present study the plasma status of vitamin E is the most important factor to explain cross-cultural differences of IHD mortality. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis of the prevention of arteriosclerosis by antioxidant protection against peroxidative lipoprotein modification, but does not exclude additional effects of antioxidant vitamins, e.g. on the cellular or immunological level.

Progress on Understanding the Anticancer Mechanisms of Medicinal Mushroom: Inonotus Obliquus

“…Reactive oxygen species (ROSs) play important roles in degenerative or pathological processes in conditions such as aging (Burns et al, 2001), cancer, coronary heart disease, Alzheimer's disease (Ames et al, 1983;Gey, 1990;Diaz et al, 1997), neurodegenerative disorders, atherosclerosis, cataract formation, and inflammation (Aruoma, 1998). Excessive production of ROSs may lead to oxidative damage to proteins, DNA, genomic instability and other macromolecules, accumulation of which with time favors the acquisition of mutations and ultimately results in the cellular transformation to cancer cells (Vera-Ramirez et al, 2011).…”

Comparison of Anti-Oxidant Activities and Exhaustive Extraction Yields between Wild and Cultivated Cyclamen persicum, Malva sylvestris and Urtica pilulifera Leaves

“…Fresh organic fruits, vegetables and herbal teas that are rich in natural antioxidant compounds have been associated with the prevention of various types of cancer and cardiovascular diseases (Willcox et al, 2004). Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an inverse association between intake of fruits and vegetables and mortality from age related diseases, such as coronary heart disease and cancer, which may be attributed to their antioxidant activity (Cragg et al, 1997;Eberhardt et al, 2000;Gey, 1990;Kris-Etherton et al, 2002;Willett, 1994). Different studies have suggested that synthetic antioxidants, such as Butylated hydroxyanisole ( BHA) butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), need to be replaced with natural antioxidants, as they were found to be toxic and carcinogenic in tested animal models (Ito et al, 1986;Safer and Al-Nughamish, 1999).…”

d-alpha-tocopherol inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation occurs at physiological concentrations, correlates with protein kinase C inhibition, and is independent of its antioxidant properties.

“…Evidence indicates that experimental atherosclerosis and foam cell formation can be effectively retarded by antioxidants (10)(11)(12). In addition, supplementation of human subjects with antioxidants has been shown to increase the resistance of their low density lipoproteins to oxidation and to protect against arteriosclerosis (13)(14)(15)(16). As antioxidants, tocopherols may stimulate in some cases cell proliferation by removing inhibitory lipid peroxides (17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22).…”