Inverse correlation between the plasma level of antioxidant vitamins and the incidence of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in cross-sectional epidemiology

Abstract

IHD is predicted by hitherto established risk factors such as hypercholesterolemia only to about 50%. Among candidates as complementary factors are aggressive oxygen species and thus also the radical scavengers, i.e. the antioxidants. In the acute reperfusion experiment hypoxia with subsequent reoxygenation results in a sudden burst of oxygen radicals which will seriously damage blood vessels as soon as the physiological radical scavengers such as the vitamins C, E and glutathion are exhausted. Exogenous peroxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) damage endothelial and heart muscle cells and provoke proliferation of smooth muscle cells, and cause even sudden death in animals. This can be prevented by vitamins C or E. Chronic marginal deficiency of vitamin C or E causes arteriosclerosis-like lesions in rodents and piglets. Experimental scurvy in man can suddenly cause cardiomegaly, electrocardiographic abnormalities and acute cardiac emergency. Arteriographically established IHD was reported to be inversely related to the status of vitamin C. Previous epidemiological evidence suggests that the vegetarian type of diet is associated with a lower mortality from IHD. Correspondingly, the standardized mortality for IHD