Reduced concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules after antioxidant supplementation in postmenopausal women with high cardiovascular risk profiles- A randomized double-blind study

Background: One of the suggested mechanisms of increased cardiovascular ris k in postmenopause is a loss of the antioxidant effects of estrogens. It ha s been shown that classical cardiovascular risk factors increase oxidative stress on the arterial wall, and that endothelial cells react to this insul t by increased expression of cellular adhesion molecules (CAM), which in tu rn are markers of arterial wall inflammation. Methods: A randomized, placeb o-controlled, double-blind study was performed in 60 postmenopausal women w ith high cardiovascular risk profiles, but free from clinical atherosclerot ic disease. Patients were randomized to either antioxidant supplementation (using a combination of natural antioxidants; n = 30) or placebo (n = 30), and followed for 12 weeks. The concentrations of the adhesion molecules sVC AM-1 and sICAM-1 were measured by ELISA at baseline and at the end of the s tudy, as well as total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides and blood press ure. Results: 27 women in the antioxidant supplementation group and 29 on p lacebo completed the study. At baseline, there were no significant differen ces in measured parameters between the groups: sICAM-1 concentrations were 341.8 +/- 116.9 vs. 349.9 +/- 104.6 ng/ml (active treatment vs. placebo; p = n.s.) and sVCAM-1 concentrations were 780.5 +/- 325.8 vs. 761.0 +/- 333.7 ng/ml (p = n.s.). In contrast, at the end of the study, sICAM-1 concentrat ions were 301.6 +/- 56.0 vs. 356.0 +/- 134.8 ng/ml (active treatment vs. pl acebo; p = 0.053) and sVCAM-1 concentrations were 656.0 +/- 326.5 vs. 818.5 +/- 381.0 ng/ml (p = 0.04). There were no significant differences between or changes within the groups in measured cholesterol and blood pressure. Co nclusion: Antioxidant supplementation reduces serum concentrations of endot helium-derived adhesion molecules sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in postmenopausal wom en with high cardiovascular risk profiles. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.