Vitamin E and vascular homeostasis: implications for atherosclerosis

Considerable epidemiologic data suggest that dietary consumption of vitamin E reduces the incidence of cardiovascular disease. The precise mechanisms are not clear, but emerging data indicate that vitamin E has numerous activ ities that may, in part, explain its effect on vascular disease. Ln particu lar, vitamin E enhances the bioactivity of nitric oxide, inhibits smooth mu scle proliferation, and limits platelet aggregation, One common mechanism t o account for these effects of vitamin E is the inhibition of protein kinas e C stimulation, In the setting of atherosclerosis, inhibition of protein k inase C by vitamin E would be expected to maintain normal vascular homeosta sis and thus reduce the clinical incidence of cardiovascular disease.