Endothelial Function in Hyperlipidemic Children Improves With Vitamins C, E
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Aug 12 - Antioxidant therapy with vitamins C and E restores endothelial function in children with hyperlipidemia, according to a report in the August 11 rapid access issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
"Hyperlipidemia is associated with endothelial dysfunction, an early event in atherosclerosis and predictor of risk for future coronary artery disease," Dr. Marguerite M. Engler, of the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues note. "Epidemiological studies suggest that increased dietary intake of antioxidants reduces the risk of coronary artery disease."
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the researchers examined the effects of 500 mg/d vitamin C and 400 IU/d vitamin E for 6 months on endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery in 15 children with familial hypercholesterolemia or familial combined hyperlipidemia.
The children adhered to the National Cholesterol Education Program Step II (NCEP-II) diet throughout the study, but received vitamins or placebo in a crossover design.
Antioxidant vitamin therapy significantly improved FMD of the brachial artery to 9.5%, compared with 5.9% during the placebo phase of the trial. Antioxidant vitamin therapy had no significant effect on biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation, or levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine, an inhibitor of nitric oxide.
"Antioxidant vitamins C and E may improve endothelial function by increasing local NO bioavailability and may therefore retard the progression of atherosclerosis in high-risk children," Dr. Engler and colleagues suggest.
They add, "The intervention is economical and well-tolerated, and if confirmed in further studies, could have important long-term beneficial effects to prevent cardiovascular complications in children with hyperlipidemia."
Circulation 2003;108.
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