ABSTRACT
This chapter briefly discusses epidemiological evidence that links antioxidants to cardiovascular effects. A large body of epidemiologic evidence now supports the role of antioxidant vitamins including ascorbate, alpha-tocopherol, and beta-carotene as protective agents against atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. These vitamins have been shown to protect low-density lipoprotein (LDL) against oxidative modification in ex vivo supplementation studies and in vitro loading studies, suggesting that the protective effect against atherosclerosis associated with their intake may be mediated by their antioxidant activity. Direct evidence that LDL oxidation occurs in vivo is demonstrated by the presence of autoantibodies against oxidized LDL in human and rabbit atherosclerotic lesions. The chapter summarizes the "oxidation hypothesis" of atherosclerosis and its implication that natural antioxidants may be able to prevent or slow the progression of atherosclerosis. It reviews studies that test the ability of vitamin E and beta-carotene to inhibit the oxidation of low density lipoprotein in vitro.
