VITAMIN-E - THE EVIDENCE FOR AN ANTI-ATHEROGENICROLE

Vitamin E is the major lipid-soluble antioxidant present in blood. It acts synergistically with other circulating and cellular antioxidants, to protect cells from damage and lysis induced by oxidative stress. M ost of the vitamin E in blood plasma is present in the low density lip oprotein (LDL) fraction, hence it is optimally placed to prevent free- radical mediated modification of this lipoprotein. There is compelling evidence indicating that LDL oxidation, which occurs during atherogen esis and which is probably involved in lesion initiation and progressi on, is inhibited by vitamin E, and it has been proposed that vitamin E may be anti-atherogenic by virtue of its antioxidant properties alone . However recent studies suggest it may also act by other mechanisms.