Vitamin C and E consumption and coronary heart disease in men

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a major source of mortality and morbidity in general population. Oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) represent the most important determinant factor in the development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. Oxidative damage and the production of free radicals (FRs) in the endothelium are some of the main factors involved in the pathogenesis of the atherosclerotic process which causes CVD. Appropriate nutritional practices are of central importance in managing risk and treatment of CVD; indeed, many current guidelines contain nutritional recommendations to reduce the risk of these diseases. In observational studies vitamin C and E, the most prevalent natural antioxidant vitamins, have suggested that supplemental users have lower rate of coronary events. Despite these data, several large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have failed to confirm the benefits for vitamin C and E in cardiovascular (CV) prevention. The aim of this review is to examine the studies published in literature which report the effect of supplementation with antioxidant vitamins (C,E) in the primary and secondary prevention of CVD in men due to atherosclerotic process.