Antioxidants and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Summary of the Evidence

Abstract The implication of oxidative stress in the etiology of Cardiovascular disease (CVD) suggests that antioxidant therapy represents a promising avenue for treatment. Although experimental studies in cell cultures and animals have indicated that antioxidants such as β-carotene, ascorbic acid, or α-tocopherol may reduce oxidative stress, human intervention studies do not support a beneficial effect. Strategies for the intervention and prevention of CVD require an understanding of the basic molecular mechanism(s) by prophylactic agents (synthetic antioxidants, dietary antioxidant factors from food plants and medicinal plants) that may potentially prevent or reverse the promotion or progression of the disease. New knowledge of mechanisms involved in oxidant stress in tissues, reactive oxygen species production, and the fate of antioxidants after their administration may lead to progress in improved outcomes and refined therapies for CVD. In this article, we will review the evidence with and the evidence against using antioxidants either from diet or in a supplemental form in clinical trials.