[Can antioxidants prevent atherosclerosis?]

Abstract

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.