"Dietary antioxidant vitamins and death from coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women" by Kushi, Folsom, Prineas, Mink, Wu, and Bostick (1996) reports that evidence supports the conclusion that the oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) might be important in the development of atherosclerosis and studies indicate that antioxidants may have a role in preventing the development of coronary heart disease. This study provided the opportunity to examine effects of dietary antioxidants related to mortality from coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women.
Oxidized LDL has been found to be present in atherosclerotic plaques and the oxidation of LDL seems to enhance the uptake of LDL by macrophages which encourages the formation of foam cells and fatty streak development. Increased susceptibility to this oxidation has been correlated with an increase in severity of carotid atherosclerosis. Studies with animals have demonstrated atherosclerosis inhibition with antioxidants (probucol, butylated hydroxytoluene, and vitamin E). Previous epidemiologic studies have shown an inverse relationship between vitamin E intake and coronary heart disease and protective activity has been found with vitamin C and provitamin A carotenoids (1:1156).
"Effect of vitamin E and beta carotene on the incidence of angina pectoris" by Rapola, Virtamo, Haukka, Heinonen, Albanes,
Taylor, and Huttunen (1996) also reports that evidence from laboratory and epidemiological studies conclude that oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein may have an important role in atherosclerosis development. This study provided evidence regarding the effects of antioxidant supplementation of the incidence of angina pectoris in men without known coronary heart disease.
This study further stated that findings regarding effects of beta carotene in vivo are controversial; it has been indicated however, that beta carotene in vitro has been ...