Vitamin E and Aspirin May Prevent Heart Disease

A study has found that the anti-oxidant vitamin E together with a cox inhibitor such as aspirin significantly delays or prevents the development of atherosclerosis in mice even when their cholesterol levels are high. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (Philadelphia, USA), was published in the October issue of Circulation.

The researchers used a group of mice that had been genetically engineered to produce high cholesterol and atherosclerotic lesions similar to human plaques. The first test group was administered a daily dose of vitamin E equal to 800 U in human subjects. The vitamin E reduced oxidative stress to the point it was suppressed in the mice. In addition, it reduced atherosclerosis by 65%, even though cholesterol levels were still high. The second test group was administered the same dose of vitamin E along with a dose of indomethacin equal to 25 mg in humans. The results were even more spectacular.

"We found the synergistic effect from vitamin E and indomethacin resulted in an 85% reduction of atherosclerosis,” said Dr. Domenico Pratico, research assistant professor in Penn's department of pharmacology and the lead investigator. "Oxidative stress and inflammation are probably as important as cholesterol, if we can delay or prevent its onset with this combination of drugs.”




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