Vitamin E improves arterial compliance in middle-aged men and women

Diminished arterial compliance, or loss of elasticity in large arteries, is an emerging cardiovascular risk factor with a reversible component that in cludes improved endothelial function. Vitamin E: which may reduce cardiovas cular risk, can lower vascular resistance. Twenty-eight middle-aged men and women were randomized through a double-blind design to 8 weeks of suppleme ntal vitamin E (400 IU daily) or placebo. Compliance was determined non-inv asively from simultaneous measurements of aortic flow and carotid pressure at baseline and after 4 and 8 weeks. Results: arterial compliance increased by 37% at 4 weeks and by 44% at 8 weeks (P = 0.01) only in the vitamin E g roup and was independent of an effect on arterial pressure. A rise was seen in 12/14 subjects. There was no significant change with placebo (+ 8%). Co nclusions: short-term vitamin E supplementation improves arterial complianc e. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.