"vitamin E may only be effective in combination with vitamin C"
Nice attention grabber, eh?
(Circulation Research. 2000;87:349.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.
MiniReview
Potential Antiatherogenic Mechanisms of Ascorbate
(Vitamin C) and -Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
Anitra C. Carr; Ben-Zhan Zhu; Balz Frei
From the Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Ore.
Correspondence to Balz Frei, PhD, Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, 571 Weniger Hall,
Corvallis, OR 97331-6512. E-mail balz.frei@orst.edu
Abstract—The premise that oxidative stress, among several other factors, plays an important role in atherogenesis implies that
the development and progression of atherosclerosis can be inhibited by antioxidants. In this minireview we discuss several
mechanisms by which the antioxidants ascorbate (vitamin C) and -tocopherol (vitamin E) may protect against atherosclerosis.
These mechanisms include inhibition of LDL oxidation and inhibition of leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium and vascular
endothelial dysfunction. Overall, ascorbate appears to be more effective than -tocopherol in mitigating these
pathophysiological processes, most likely as a result of its abilities to effectively scavenge a wide range of reactive oxygen and
nitrogen species and to regenerate -tocopherol, and possibly tetrahydrobiopterin, from its radical species. In contrast,
-tocopherol can act either as an antioxidant or a pro-oxidant to inhibit or facilitate, respectively, lipid peroxidation in LDL.
However, this pro-oxidant activity of -tocopherol is prevented by ascorbate acting as a coantioxidant. Therefore, an optimum
vitamin C intake or body status may help protect against atherosclerosis and its clinical sequelae, whereas vitamin E may only
be effective in combination with vitamin C.
Key Words: ascorbic acid • atherosclerosis • endothelial cells • low-density lipoprotein • vitamin E |
