Affiliations: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Berne, Switzerland
Note: [] Address for correspondence: K.F. Gey, MD, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Berne, Bühlstrasse 28, POB, CH‐3000 Berne 9, Switzerland.
Abstract: Antioxidants are crucial components of fruit/vegetable‐rich diets preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer: ‐ plasma vitamins C, E, carotenoids from diet correlate prevalence of CVD and cancer inversely, low levels predict an increased risk of individuals which is potentiated by combined inadequacy (e.g., vitamins C+E, C+carotene, A+carotene); ‐ self‐prescribed rectification of vitamins C and E at adequacy of other micronutrients reduce forthcoming CVD, of vitamins A, C, E, carotene and conutrients also cancer; ‐ randomized exclusive supplementation of \beta‐carotene\,\pm\,vitamin A or E lack benefits except prostate cancer reduction by vitamin E, and overall cancer reduction by selenium; ‐ randomized intervention with synchronous rectification of vitamins A+C+E+B\,+\,minerals reduces CVD and counteracts precancerous lesions; ‐ high vitamin E supplements reveal potentials in secondary CVD prevention. Plasma values desirable for primary prevention: \scriptstyle \geqslant 30 \mumol/l lipid‐standardized vitamin E (\alpha‐tocopherol/cholesterol \scriptstyle \geqslant 5.0 \mumol/mmol); \scriptstyle \geqslant 50 \mumol/l vitamin C aiming at vitamin C/vitamin E ratio >1.3–1.5; \scriptstyle \geqslant 0.4 \mumol/l \beta‐ (\scriptstyle \geqslant 0.5 \mumol/l \alpha+\beta‐) carotene. Conclusions: ‐ in CVD vitamin E acts as first risk discriminator, vitamin C as second one; ‐ optimal health requires synchronously optimized vitamins C+E, A, carotenoids and vegetable conutrients.
Keywords: Vitamin C, vitamin E, cancer, cardiovascular disease, epidemiology
Journal: Biofactors, vol. 7, no. 1-2, pp. 113-174, 1998
