[The involvement of vitamins C and E in changing the immune response]

Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is just one of mechanisms through which activated polymorphonuclear neutrophiles contribute to the myocardium injury in ischemia and infarct. In the employed experimental model, the physical effort through swimming has determined the suppression of neutrophile activity and activation of serum complement. The vitamins E and C have stimulated the phagocytosis capacity of neutrophiles in the peripheral blood but they did not influence the serum complement. Our results suggest that these vitamins with their known antioxidant properties may be used together with other immunomodulators for the adapting defence of organism.