Alpha-Tocopherol Supplementation in Healthy Individuals Reduces Low-Density Lipoprotein Oxidation but Not Atherosclerosis The Vitamin E Atherosclerosis Prevention Study (VEAPS)

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 106; no. 12; pp. 1453 - 1459
• Main Authors: Hodis, Howard N., Mack, Wendy J., LaBree, Laurie, Mahrer, Peter R., Sevanian, Alex, Liu, Chao-ran, Liu, Ci-hua, Hwang, Juliana, Selzer, Robert H., Azen, Stanley P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 17.09.2002
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; alpha-Tocopherol - administration & dosage; alpha-Tocopherol - therapeutic use; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Arteriosclerosis - blood; Arteriosclerosis - diagnostic imaging; Arteriosclerosis - prevention & control; Biological and medical sciences; Carotid Artery, Common - diagnostic imaging; Dietary Supplements; Disease Progression; Female; General and cellular metabolism. Vitamins; Humans; Lipoproteins, LDL - blood; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Tunica Intima - diagnostic imaging; Tunica Media - diagnostic imaging; Ultrasonography; Human; Prognosis; Cardiovascular disease; Cholesterol LDL; Controlled therapeutic trial; E-Vitamins; Antioxidant; Vascular disease; Lipoprotein LDL; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Atherosclerosis; Oxidation; Tocopherol
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000029092.99946.08

Background— Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between vitamin E intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. In contrast, randomized controlled trials have reported conflicting results as to whether vitamin E supplementation reduces atherosclerosis progression and CVD events. Methods and Results— The study population consisted of men and women ≥40 years old with an LDL cholesterol level ≥3.37 mmol/L (130 mg/dL) and no clinical signs or symptoms of CVD. Eligible participants were randomized to DL-α-tocopherol 400 IU per day or placebo and followed every 3 months for an average of 3 years. The primary trial end point was the rate of change in the common carotid artery far-wall intima-media thickness (IMT) assessed by computer image-processed B-mode ultrasonograms. A mixed effects model using all determinations of IMT was used to test the hypothesis of treatment differences in IMT change rates. Compared with placebo, α-tocopherol supplementation significantly raised plasma vitamin E levels ( P <0.0001), reduced circulating oxidized LDL ( P =0.03), and reduced LDL oxidative susceptibility ( P <0.01). However, vitamin E supplementation did not reduce the progression of IMT over a 3-year period compared with subjects randomized to placebo. Conclusions— The results are consistent with previous randomized controlled trials and extend the null results of vitamin E supplementation to the progression of IMT in healthy men and women at low risk for CVD.