Regional differences in coronary heart disease in Britain: do antioxidant nutrients provide the key?

In Britain, there are large regional differences in mortality rates from coronary heart disease which can not be explained by established risk factors such as elevated levels of blood cholesterol or high blood pressure. These regional differences can to a large extent be explained by a cluster of inter-related factors: a poor diet lacking in fresh fruit and vegetables, cigarette smoking, and low socio-economic status. All of these factors are associated with a low dietary intake and hence a low blood concentration of antioxidant nutrients. Increased oxidative stress resulting from a low antioxidant status may therefore be the common mechanism by which these factors operate.