Vitamins E and A in vascular diseases.

The major pathogenetic factors of the atherosclerotic diseases are: a) vasal endothelium distress; b) rheological disturbs; c) alterations in plasma lipid pattern; d) dietary intake of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids; e) alteration of mitochondrial and microsomal membranes; f) vascular injury induced by immune complexes; g) increased lipid peroxidations. Many well documented reports state a positive effect of vitamins A and E on some of the factors previously considered. Vitamins A and E have an endothelium-protective activity and an antiperoxidative effect; they act as antiaggregant factors, affect O2 transport and utilization processes, increase HDL-cholesterol, potentiate the hypolipidemic action of the nicotinic acid.