Vitamin E Fails to Regress Hypercholesterolemic Atherosclerosis

Scientists at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada have published a report in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics on the effects of vitamin E on hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis. The study involved four groups of rabbits fed different diets to observe the effects of vitamin E on atherosclerosis. The results showed that vitamin E did not regress hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis, despite reducing oxidative stress. In contrast, the rabbits on regular diet following a high-cholesterol diet showed acceleration of atherosclerosis without an increase in oxidative stress.

Key Takeaways:

• Vitamin E supplementation failed to regress hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis in rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet.
• Serum lipids decreased to a similar extent in groups on regular diet with or without vitamin E, but atherosclerotic lesions increased by 63% and 141% compared to the high-cholesterol diet group.
• Regular diet following a high-cholesterol diet decreased oxidative stress but did not induce regression of atherosclerosis.
• Vitamin E supplementation on regular diet with a high-cholesterol diet was not associated with an increase in oxidative stress but produced acceleration of atherosclerosis.
• K. Prasad and colleagues conducted the study at the University of Saskatchewan's Department of Physiology.
• The study was published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Vitamin E does not regress hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2009;14(3):231-41).

Statistics:

• Atherosclerotic lesions increased by 63% and 141% in rabbits on regular diet with or without vitamin E, respectively, compared to the high-cholesterol diet group (group II).
• Serum lipids decreased to a similar extent in groups on regular diet with or without vitamin E (groups III and IV).
• The study involved 4 groups of rabbits: group I (control), group II (high-cholesterol diet), group III (high-cholesterol diet followed by regular diet), and group IV (high-cholesterol diet followed by regular diet with vitamin E).

Sources:

• K. Prasad et al. "Vitamin E does not regress hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis." Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2009;14(3):231-41.
• Atherosclerosis Prevention (note: exact URL or online link not provided)
• University of Saskatchewan, Department of Physiology
• Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA)